Chronister v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
8
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on November 26, 2012. (lw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
DENA LARIE CHRONISTER
v.
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL NO. 2:12-cv-02117-JRM
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner
Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Dena Larie Chronister, 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 applications for disability insurance benefits and supplemental
security income pursuant to Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. ECF No. 1. Defendant
filed an answer to Plaintiff’s action on September 4, 2012, asserting that the findings of the
Commissioner were supported by substantial evidence. ECF No. 4.
On November 21, 2012, the Commissioner, having changed positions, filed a motion
requesting that Plaintiff’s case be remanded pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g), in
order to conduct further administrative proceedings. ECF No. 7. Specifically, the Commissioner
seeks remand to hold a supplemental hearing and issue a new decision. See Def.’s Mot. Remand,
1. The Commissioner states that opposing counsel has been contacted and has no objection. Id.
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. See
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The fourth sentence of the statute provides that "[t]he court shall have
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." Id.; Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 296, 113 S.Ct. 2625 (1993).
Here, the undersigned finds remand to allow the Administrative Law Judge to further
evaluate the evidence as addressed above, appropriate. Therefore, the Commissioner’s motion
is GRANTED and the case will be remanded to the Commissioner for further administrative
action pursuant to sentence four of section 405(g).
IT IS SO ORDERED this 26th day of November 2012.
/s/ J. Marschewski
HONORABLE JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
-2-
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
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