Brown v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 7

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn on 1/14/13. (CTS, )

FILED
2013 Jan-14 PM 04:18
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
JASPER DIVISION

SHEILA FAYE BROWN,
Plaintiff,
v.

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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) CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:12-CV-1693-SLB
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
This cause is before the court upon the motion of the Commissioner to
dismiss. The basis for Commissioner’s motion is that this action was not timely filed
under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides that a civil action seeking review of a final
decision by the Commissioner must be “commenced within sixty days after the mailing to
him of notice of such decision....” The Commissioner has interpreted “mailing” as the
date of receipt by the individual of the Appeals Council’s notice of denial of request for
review of the presiding officer’s decision. 20 C.F.R. § 422.210(c)(2006). The date of
receipt is presumed to be five days after the date of such notice, unless there is a
reasonable showing to the contrary made to the Appeals Council. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.901,
416.1401, 422.210(c)(2006).
The uncontradicted declaration of Patrick J. Herbst establishes that the
Appeals Council denied review of plaintiff’s claim on February 16, 2012. Therefore,

plaintiff’s deadline to commence a civil action was on or before April 23, 2012.1
Plaintiff’s complaint was filed April 25, 2012.
The plaintiff has filed nothing in opposition to the Commissioner’s motion
and there appear to be no circumstances in the present case that would justify a tolling of
the sixty-day requirement of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Accordingly, plaintiff’s appeal is due to
be dismissed.
An appropriate order will be entered contemporaneously herewith.
DONE and ORDERED this 14th day of January, 2013.

SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

1

Because the sixty-fifth day fell on a weekend, the deadline for filing an appeal was the
following Monday, April 23, 2012.