Farmer v. Social Security Administration

Filing 13

ORDER finding that remand is appropriate for the purpose of allowing the ALJ to further evaluate the evidence. The Commissioner's motion is granted and the case is reversed and remanded to the Commissioner for further administrative action pursuant to "sentence four". This dismissal is without prejudice to Plaintiff's subsequent filing for attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney on 2/12/2016. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
SANDRA FARMER
V.

PLAINTIFF
CASE NO. 3:15-cv-00264 JTK

CAROLYN COLVIN,
Commissioner, Social
Security Administration
DEFENDANT

ORDER
Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial review of
a decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (Commissioner)
denying her application for social security disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI). (Doc. #2, Complaint) The Defendant filed an answer to Plaintiff’s action on
November 18, 2015, asserting that Plaintiff had not shown that reversal was warranted.
(Doc. # 7, Answer)
Pending now before the Court is Defendant’s Unopposed Motion to Reverse and
Remand, pursuant to “sentence four” of section 405(g). (Doc # 12) Specifically, the
Commissioner states that remand is proper so that it may conduct further proceedings.
The exclusive methods by which a district court may remand a social security case to
the Commissioner are set forth in “sentence four” and “sentence six” of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
A remand pursuant to “sentence six” is limited to two situations: where the Commissioner
requests a remand before answering the complaint or where the court orders the
Commissioner to consider new, material evidence that was for good cause not presented

before the agency. The fourth sentence of the statute provides that “[t]he court shall have the
power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming,
modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without
remanding the cause for a rehearing.” 42 U.S.C. 405(g); Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292,
296 (1993).
Here, the court finds remand appropriate for the purpose of allowing the ALJ to
further evaluate the evidence. Therefore, the Commissioner’s motion is granted, and the case
is reversed and remanded to the Commissioner for further administrative action pursuant to
“sentence four” of section 405(g). This dismissal is without prejudice to Plaintiff’s
subsequent filing for attorney’s fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 12th day of February, 2016.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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