Taylor v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 27

OPINION AND ORDER affirming the decision of the Commissioner. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly, terminate any pending motions and deadlines, and close the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mac R. McCoy on 12/22/2016. (JTM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
THERESA TAYLOR,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 2:15-cv-749-FtM-MRM

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
/
OPINION AND ORDER
This cause is before the Court on Plaintiff Theresa Taylor’s Complaint (Doc. 1) filed on
December 1, 2015. Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the final decision of the Commissioner of
the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denying her claim for supplemental security income.
The Commissioner filed the Transcript of the proceedings (hereinafter referred to as “Tr.”
followed by the appropriate page number), and the parties filed legal memoranda in support of
their positions. For the reasons set out herein, the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED
pursuant to § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 1
I.

Social Security Act Eligibility, the ALJ’s Decision, and Standard of Review
A. Eligibility
The law defines disability as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason

of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in
death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve

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Plaintiff moved “the Court to enter summary judgment.” (Doc. 22 at 1). Nevertheless, this
Court’s role in social security matters is governed by 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Accordingly, the
standard of review pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is set forth in this Opinion and Order.

months. 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i), 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 416.905. The
impairment must be severe, making the claimant unable to do her previous work, or any other
substantial gainful activity that exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(2),
1382c(a)(3); 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.905 - 416.911.
B. Procedural History
On March 2, 2011, Plaintiff filed an application for supplemental security income
asserting an onset date of December 31, 2003. (Tr. at 123). Plaintiff’s application was denied
initially on June 1, 2011 (Tr. at 78), and upon reconsideration on August 16, 2011 (Tr. at 79). A
hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Larry J. Butler on May 30, 2013.
(Tr. at 34-69). The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on April 7, 2014. (Tr. at 12-29). The
ALJ found Plaintiff not to be under a disability from March 2, 2011, the date her application was
filed. (Tr. at 24).
On October 7, 2015, the Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review. (Tr. at 17). Plaintiff filed a Complaint (Doc. 1) in this Court on December 1, 2015. Defendant filed an
Answer (Doc. 14) on April 6, 2016. The parties filed Memoranda in support. (Docs. 22, 23, 26).
The parties consented to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge for all proceedings.
(See Doc. 18). This case is ripe for review.
C. Summary of the ALJ’s Decision
An ALJ must follow a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine if a claimant
has proven that she is disabled. Packer v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 542 F. App’x 890, 891 (11th Cir.
2013) (citing Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir. 1999)). 2 An ALJ must determine

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Unpublished opinions may be cited as persuasive on a particular point. The Court does not rely
on unpublished opinions as precedent. Citation to unpublished opinions on or after January 1,

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whether the claimant: (1) is performing substantial gainful activity; (2) has a severe impairment;
(3) has a severe impairment that meets or equals an impairment specifically listed in 20 C.F.R.
Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1; (4) has the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform her
past relevant work; and (5) can perform other work of the sort found in the national economy.
Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1237-40 (11th Cir. 2004). The claimant has the burden of
proof through step four and then the burden shifts to the Commissioner at step five. Hines-Sharp
v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 511 F. App’x 913, 915 n.2 (11th Cir. 2013).
At step one of the sequential evaluation, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in
substantial gainful activity since March 2, 2011, the date of Plaintiff’s application. (Tr. at 17).
At step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments:
status post stroke with left-sided residual weakness, headaches, degenerative joint disease of the
thoracic spine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Tr. at 17).
At step three, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the listed
impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart. P, Appendix 1 (20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(d), 416.925
and 416.926). (Tr. at 19).
Based on the evidence, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the residual functional
capacity (“RFC”):
to lift and/or carry 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently, stand and/or
walk 6 hours in an 8-hour workday, and sit 6 hours in an 8-hour workday. She
could occasionally climb ramps or stairs, stoop, kneel, and crouch, but never climb
ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, balance, and crawl. The claimant could occasionally
reach overhead with her left upper extremity. She could frequently handle/grasp,
finger, feel, operate hand tools, and push/pull with her left upper extremity. The
claimant could frequently operate foot controls with the left lower extremity. The
2007 is expressly permitted under Rule 31.1, Fed. R. App. P. Unpublished opinions may be
cited as persuasive authority pursuant to the Eleventh Circuit Rules. 11th Cir. R. 36-2.

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claimant should avoid concentrated exposure to pulmonary irritants and hazards,
such as unprotected heights and machinery.
(Tr. at 19).
At step four, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had no past relevant work. (Tr. at 23).
At step five, after considering Plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, and RFC, the
ALJ determined that there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that
Plaintiff can perform. (Tr. at 23). Specifically, based on his finding that Plaintiff can perform
light work, the ALJ determined that a finding of “not disabled” was appropriate under the
framework of Medical-Vocational Rule 202.l0. (Tr. at 24). Accordingly, the ALJ concluded
that Plaintiff was not been under a disability since March 2, 2011, the date the application was
filed. (Tr. at 24).
D. Standard of Review
The scope of this Court’s review is limited to determining whether the ALJ applied the
correct legal standard, McRoberts v. Bowen, 841 F.2d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir. 1988), and whether
the findings are supported by substantial evidence, Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390
(1971). The Commissioner’s findings of fact are conclusive if supported by substantial
evidence. 42 U.S.C. §405(g). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla; i.e., the evidence
must do more than merely create a suspicion of the existence of a fact, and must include such
relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support the conclusion.
Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1560 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing Walden v. Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835,
838 (11th Cir. 1982); Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401).
Where the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, the district
court will affirm, even if the reviewer would have reached a contrary result as finder of fact, and
even if the reviewer finds that “the evidence preponderates against” the Commissioner’s

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decision. Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584 n.3 (11th Cir. 1991); Barnes v. Sullivan, 932
F.2d 1356, 1358 (11th Cir. 1991). The district court must view the evidence as a whole, taking
into account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the decision. Foote, 67 F.3d at 1560;
accord Lowery v. Sullivan, 979 F.2d 835, 837 (11th Cir. 1992) (stating that the court must
scrutinize the entire record to determine reasonableness of factual findings).
II.

Analysis
On appeal, Plaintiff raises three issues:
(1) The ALJ erred by failing to find that Plaintiff has a severe mental impairment.
(2) The ALJ’s findings at Step Five of the sequential evaluation process are not
supported by substantial evidence.
(3) There is sufficient evidence of bias, or at a minimum the appearance of
compromised decision-making on the part of the ALJ, warranting remand and
re-assignment to a different ALJ other than ALJ Larry Butler.

(Doc. 22 at 2-3). The Court addresses each of these issues in turn.
A. Plaintiff’s Mental Impairments
The first issue raised by Plaintiff is that the ALJ committed harmful error by finding her
mental impairments to be non-severe. (Doc. 22 at 6-10). Defendant disagrees, arguing that
substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s severity assessment. (Doc. 23 at 4-8).
On this issue, the Court notes that an impairment is “severe” under the Commissioner’s
regulations if it “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work
activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(c); 416.921(a). According to the Eleventh Circuit, however,
“[n]othing requires that the ALJ must identify, at step two, all of the impairments that should be
considered severe.” Heatly v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 382 F. App’x 823, 825 (11th Cir. 2010).
Rather, the ALJ must only consider the claimant’s impairments in combination, whether severe
or not. Id. If any impairment or combination of impairments qualifies as “severe,” step two is

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satisfied and the claim advances to step three. Gray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 550 F. App’x 850,
852 (11th Cir. 2013) (citing Jamison v. Bowen, 814 F.2d 585, 588 (11th Cir. 1987)).
In this case, the Court notes that the ALJ made a determination that Plaintiff suffered
from a number of severe impairments including: status post stroke with left-sided residual
weakness, headaches, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. (Tr. at 17). Because the ALJ made a determination that Plaintiff suffered
from at least one severe impairment, the ALJ was not required to list every impairment that may
be classified as severe. See Heatly, 382 F. App’x at 825. Rather, the only requirement is that the
ALJ considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments in combination, whether severe or non-severe. See
id.
Here, the record demonstrates that the ALJ evaluated all of Plaintiff’s impairments in
combination, whether severe or non-severe. Specifically, in making his RFC determination, the
ALJ stated that:
In making this finding, the undersigned has considered all symptoms and the extent
to which these symptoms can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the
objective medical evidence and other evidence, based on the requirements of20
CFR 416.929 and SSRs 96-4p and 96-7p. The undersigned has also considered
opinion evidence in accordance with the requirements of 20 CFR 416.927 and SSRs
96-2p, 96-Sp, 96-6p and 06-3p.
(Tr. at 19).
Moreover, the Court notes that the ALJ specifically considered Plaintiff’s mental
impairments and found them to be non-severe. (Tr. at 17-19). In fact, a review of the ALJ’s
Decision shows that the ALJ carefully reviewed all of the objective medical evidence and the
medical opinion evidence of record. (Tr. at 17-19). Furthermore, the record shows that the ALJ
considered Plaintiff’s mental impairments in making a credibility determination of Plaintiff in
the RFC assessment. (Tr. at 20-21).

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Additionally, while Plaintiff is correct that the ALJ did not specifically discuss her Global
Assessment of Functioning (“GAF”) score (Doc. 22 at 7), the Court notes that there is no rigid
requirement that the ALJ must state with particularity the weight given to GAF scores. See Hurt
v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 6:12–cv–214–Orl–DAB, 2013 WL 462005 at * 4 (M.D.
Fla. Feb.7, 2013). Moreover, this Court has recognized that GAF scores are of “questionable
value in determining an individual’s mental functional capacity.” Wilson v. Astrue, 653 F. Supp.
2d 1282, 1293 (M.D. Fla. 2009) (internal citation omitted).
In sum, regardless of whether the ALJ erred in his conclusion that Plaintiff’s mental
impairments were non-severe, the record demonstrates that the ALJ considered Plaintiff’s mental
impairments in combination with Plaintiff’s other impairments. Therefore, the ALJ applied the
correct legal standard and did not err in failing to find Plaintiff’s mental impairments are severe,
or if he did err, the error was harmless. See Heatly, 382 F. App’x at 825.
B. The ALJ’s Step Five Analysis
i. The Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiff next argues that the ALJ erred in his analysis at step five of the sequential
evaluation. (See Doc. 22 at 10). Specifically, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ’s conclusion that
Plaintiff retains a maximum RFC equivalent to that required for light work is not supported by
substantial evidence. (Id.). Plaintiff contends that the ALJ “found that the Plaintiff’s left-sided
weakness from a prior cerebrovascular accident constitutes a severe impairment,” but,
notwithstanding this finding, still “concluded that Plaintiff is capable of performing work at the
light exertional level.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 17, 19)). Plaintiff argues that “[t]hese two findings are
inconsistent insofar as the Plaintiff’s severe left-sided weakness limits her ability to stand and/or
walk less than six hours during a working day.” (Id. (citing SSR 83-10)). Moreover, Plaintiff

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argues that it was also “inconsistent to find that a claimant with severe left-sided weakness
(including left hand weakness), retains the ability to lift 20 pounds on an occasional basis.” (Id.
(citing 20 CFR 416.967(b))).
Further, Plaintiff points to her August 2012 fall. (Id. (citing (Tr. at 523-537)). Plaintiff
states that she fell and fractured her left hand. (Id.). Plaintiff argues that “[e]ven if not a severe
impairment when considered in isolation, the ALJ [sic] decision fails to discuss and analyze the
cumulative effect of the fracture and residual left-sided weakness in assessing Plaintiff’s
manipulative limitations.” (Id. at 10-11 (citing 20 CFR 416.945(e); SSR 85-28)). Plaintiff
argues that this fracture in combination with her severe left-handed weakness due to her stroke
“causes limitations in her ability to perform basic work activities such as lifting, pushing,
pulling, reaching, carrying, or handling, to a greater extent than assessed by the ALJ.” (Id. at
11). Thus, Plaintiff argues that “[t]he ALJ’s failure to consider these combined limitations has
resulted in an inaccurate RFC” and an inaccurate “finding that the Plaintiff can work on a regular
and continuing basis [, which] is not supported by substantial evidence and requires reversal.”
(Id. (citing SSR 96-9p)). Accordingly, Plaintiff contends that “[g]iven that the evidentiary record
does not support a conclusion that Plaintiff can perform even a limited range of work at the light
exertional level, this claim should be adjudicated pursuant to the Medical-Vocational
Guidelines.” (Id.). Specifically, Plaintiff argues that her maximum RFC is, at best, at the
sedentary exertional level. (Id.). Plaintiff contends that her RFC together with her age,
education, and lack of past work, supports a finding of “disabled” as dictated by MedicalVocational Rule 201.12; 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2, 201.12. (Id.).
Defendant disagrees, arguing that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s assessment of
Plaintiff’s physical RFC. (Doc. 23 at 1). Specifically, Defendant argues that the ALJ

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“accounted for the credible limitations stemming from the combination of Plaintiff’s
impairments, including her left-sided residual weakness.” (Id. at 9). Defendant notes that the
ALJ limited Plaintiff “to light work that allowed for occasional overhead reaching with her left
upper extremity; frequent as opposed to constant[] use of her left upper extremity to handle,
grasp, finger, feel, operate hand tools, and push or pull with her left upper extremity; and
frequent operation of foot controls with her left lower extremity. (Id. (citing Tr. at 19)).
Defendant argues that the ALJ’s RFC finding is supported by substantial evidence. (Id.).
Defendant specifically contends that, “[a]s the ALJ discussed, the objective medical findings
contained in the Plaintiff’s medical records do not support a finding that Plaintiff was as limited
as she alleged.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 21, 420-37, 524-25, 527-37, 539-49)). For instance, as the
ALJ noted, Defendant points out that in September 2011, Plaintiff’s balance and gait were
normal and that no musculoskeletal or neurological abnormalities were noted other than
tenderness to palpation of the left ribs. (Id. (citing Tr. at 22, 421, 428)). Furthermore, Defendant
notes that Plaintiff sought treatment for a hand injury on August 15, 2012, but reported being
healthy aside from her left hand injury. (Id. (citing Tr. at 22, 524)). Defendant further notes that,
for the hand injury, “Plaintiff was treated with a cast and splint and prescribed Lortab and
diclofenac for pain control.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 22, 525)).
Moreover, Defendant states that, as the ALJ pointed out, Plaintiff testified that she was
able to work after her stroke. (Id. at 10 (Tr. at 23, 58)). Defendant further points to the ALJ’s
discussion of Plaintiff’s activities, which Defendant argues indicates that Plaintiff was not as
limited as she alleged. (Id. (citing Tr. at 21)). For example, as the ALJ noted, records showed
that Plaintiff could “prepare simple meals, perform light household chores, go out alone, and
drive a car.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 21, 177-79)). Moreover, as the ALJ noted, Defendant states that

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that “Plaintiff reported in January 2013 that she was walking two to three times per week for
exercise.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 21, 540)).
Furthermore, Defendant points to the opinion of State Disability Determination Services
consultant Violet Acero Stone, M.D. (Id. at 11). Defendant argues that Dr. Stone specifically
opined that “Plaintiff could perform light exertional level work with frequent climbing of ramps
or stairs, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling and occasional balancing.” (Id. (citing Tr.
at 70-75, 417)). Defendant notes that “Dr. Stone stated that Plaintiff reported a history of stroke
in 1997 with weakness on left side, pain on left side, headaches, balance issues, and memory
loss, but her examinations showed no significant neurological deficits.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 417)).
Defendant states that while Dr. Stone noted that Plaintiff maintained that her symptoms were
worsening, Dr. Stone indicated that the medical evidence of record does not support the
allegations. (Id. (citing Tr. at 417)).
Finally, Defendant states that “the ALJ found that Plaintiff experienced some decreased
mobility and grip strength in her left hand.” (Id. (citing Tr. at 23, 56, 529)). Nevertheless,
Defendant notes that the ALJ stated that Defendant “‘has some ability to use the left hand and
she is right hand dominant’ and the evidence does not demonstrate complete inability to use her
left hand, as Plaintiff alleges.” (Id.). Accordingly, Defendant argues that substantial evidence
supports the ALJ’s RFC finding. (Id.).
ii. Analysis
The RFC is the most a plaintiff is able to do despite her physical and mental limitations.
20 C.F.R. § 416.945(a)(1). The ALJ must determine a plaintiff’s RFC using all of the relevant
medical and other evidence in the record. Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1238; 20 C.F.R. § 416.945(e).
As stated above, however, the scope of this Court’s review is limited to determining whether the

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ALJ applied the correct legal standard, McRoberts, 841 F.2d at 1080, and whether the findings
are supported by substantial evidence, Richardson, 402 U.S. at 390. In this case, it is clear that
the ALJ’s RFC determination is supported by substantial evidence.
Specifically, the Court agrees with the ALJ that the objective medical findings contained
in the Plaintiff’s medical records do not support a finding that Plaintiff was as limited as she
alleged. (See Tr. at 21-23). For instance, as the ALJ noted, in September 2011, Plaintiff’s
balance and gait were normal. (Tr. at 22, 421, 428). Furthermore, as the ALJ noted, on August
15, 2012, records showed that Plaintiff sought treatment for a hand injury but reported being
healthy aside from her left hand injury. (Tr. at 22, 524-25). Further, while the medical records
showed that Plaintiff had some issues with her left hand including unsteadiness, decreased
weakness, and decreased grip strength, the ALJ nevertheless pointed out that Plaintiff testified
that she was able to work after her stroke. (Tr. at 22-23, 58, 420-37). Similarly, while the ALJ
noted that Plaintiff experienced some decreased mobility and grip strength in her left hand, the
ALJ stated that Plaintiff nevertheless demonstrated some ability to use her left hand. (Tr. at 23
(citing Tr. at 529)). The ALJ further noted that Plaintiff is right hand dominant and that the
evidence does not demonstrate a complete inability by Plaintiff to use her left hand. (Tr. at 23
(citing Tr. at 529)). Upon review, the above-cited evidence provides substantial evidence in
support of the ALJ’s decision.
Additionally, the ALJ gave great weight to the opinion of Dr. Violet Acero Stone, the
State Disability Determination Services consultant. (Tr. at 22). Dr. Stone noted that Plaintiff
reported a history of stroke in 1997 with weakness on left side, pain on left side, headaches,
balance issues, and memory loss. (Tr. at 417). Notwithstanding this history, Dr. Stone opined
that her examinations showed no significant neurological deficits. (Tr. at 417). Further, while

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Plaintiff maintained that her symptoms were worsening, Dr. Stone indicated that the medical
evidence of record does not support Plaintiff’s allegations. (Tr. at 417). A review of Dr. Stone’s
opinion shows it to be consistent with the finding that Plaintiff could perform light work. (See
Tr. at 24, 70-75).
Furthermore, the ALJ cited Plaintiff’s activities in support of his conclusion that Plaintiff
was not as limited as alleged. (See Tr. at 21). In evaluating this issue, the Court notes that
participation in daily activities of short duration, such as housework or fishing, does not
disqualify a claimant from disability. Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1441 (11th Cir. 1997).
Nevertheless, a claimant’s daily activities are a factor for the ALJ to consider in determining
credibility. See Moreno v. Astrue, 366 F. App’x 23, 28 (11th Cir. 2010); see also 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1529(c)(3), 416.929(c)(3). Here, as the ALJ noted, the records showed that Plaintiff could
prepare simple meals, perform light household chores, go out on her own, and drive a car. (Tr. at
21, 177-79). Moreover, as the ALJ noted, Plaintiff reported in January 2013 that she was
walking two to three times per week for exercise. (Tr. at 21, 540). Here, the ALJ specifically
found that Plaintiff’s “statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of
these symptoms are not entirely credible.” (Tr. at 21). Upon consideration, the Court finds that
a review of Plaintiff’s activities supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Plaintiff was not as limited as
she alleged.
Upon review of the medical records and other evidence cited above, the Court finds that
the ALJ cited substantial evidence of record in making his RFC determination and his finding
that Plaintiff can perform light work. The Court, therefore, finds that the ALJ’s RFC
determination is supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, because the ALJ did not err in

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his RFC determination of Plaintiff, the Court finds that no basis exists for concluding that the
ALJ erred at step five of the sequential evaluation.
C. Bias of the ALJ
The final issue raised by Plaintiff concerns her assertion that the ALJ was biased against
Plaintiff’s counsel, and, as a result, may have been biased against Plaintiff in making his decision
in this case. (Doc. 22 at 11-18; Doc. 26 at 5-8).
On this point, the Court notes that the “impartiality of the ALJ is integral to the integrity
of the system.” Hinson v. Colvin, No. 2:14-cv-222-FtM-DNF, 2014 WL 6769341, at *3 (M.D.
Fla. Dec. 1, 2014) (quoting Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397, 1401 (11th Cir. 1996)). Nevertheless,
courts “start from the presumption that administrative adjudicators, such as ALJs are unbiased.”
Id. (citing McClure, 456 U.S. at 195-96)). “[A] claimant challenging this presumption carries
the burden of proving otherwise.” Strople v. Colvin, No. 3:13-cv-1518-J-34MCR, 2015 WL
1470866, at *7 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 31, 2015).
In this instance, the Court finds that Plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence to
demonstrate that the ALJ was biased as to Plaintiff’s case or her counsel. Plaintiff has not shown
that the separate litigation pending – that indirectly involved Plaintiff’s counsel – influenced the
ALJ’s decision in this case. Moreover, even assuming arguendo that the ALJ was biased, there
is substantial evidence of record supporting the ALJ’s decision. Accordingly, the Court declines
to remand this case based on Plaintiff’s insufficiently supported allegations of bias.
III.

Conclusion
Upon consideration of the submissions of the parties and the administrative record, the

Court finds that the decision of the ALJ is supported by substantial evidence and decided upon
proper legal standards.

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IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
The decision of the Commissioner is hereby AFFIRMED pursuant to sentence four of 42
U.S.C. § 405(g). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly, terminate any
pending motions and deadlines, and close the case.
DONE AND ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on December 22, 2016.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

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