Bartee v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 27

ORDER adopting 25 Report and Recommendation, denying 22 Motion for Summary Judgment, and granting 23 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge K. Michael Moore on 9/15/2022. See attached document for full details. (soy)

Case 2:21-cv-14239-KMM Document 27 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2022 Page 1 of 2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 2:21-cv-14239-KMM
FONTE BARTEE,
v.

Plaintiff,

KILOLO KIJAKAZI,
Acting Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration, 1
Defendant.

/
ORDER ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon the Parties’ cross motions for summary
judgment. Plaintiff Fonte Bartee (“Plaintiff”) filed the Complaint seeking review of a final
decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Defendant”). (ECF No. 1). On February 1,
2022, Plaintiff filed her Motion for Summary Judgment. (“Pl.’s Mot.”) (ECF No. 22). On March
8, 2022, Defendant filed her Motion for Summary Judgment. (“Def.’s Mot.”) (ECF No. 23). The
Court referred the matter to the Honorable Shaniek M. Maynard, United States Magistrate Judge,
who issued a Report and Recommendation recommending that Plaintiff’s Motion be DENIED,
and Defendant’s Motion be GRANTED. (“R&R”) (ECF No. 25). The Parties did not file

1

Plaintiff initiated this suit against then-Acting Commissioner Andrew Saul. Kijakazi replaced
Andrew Saul as the Acting Commissioner of Social Security on July 9, 2021. Pursuant to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), “[a]n action does not abate when a public officer who is a party in
an official capacity . . . otherwise ceases to hold office while the action is pending. The officer’s
successor is automatically substituted as a party. Later proceedings should be in the substituted
party’s name, but any misnomer not affecting the parties’ substantial rights must be disregarded.”

Case 2:21-cv-14239-KMM Document 27 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2022 Page 2 of 2

objections to the R&R and the time to do so has passed. The matter is now ripe for review. 2 As
set forth below, the Court ADOPTS the R&R.
The Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or
recommendations made by the magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
As set forth in the R&R, Magistrate Judge Maynard makes the following findings: (1) the
Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) properly articulated and applied the pain standard and (2) the
ALJ applied the correct legal standards in evaluating the medical opinions and the ALJ’s
determinations were supported by substantial evidence. This Court agrees.
Accordingly, UPON CONSIDERATION of the R&R, the pertinent portions of the record,
and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that
the R&R (ECF No. 25) is ADOPTED, Plaintiff’s Motion (ECF No. 22) is DENIED, and
Defendant’s Motion (ECF No. 23) is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is INSTRUCTED to
CLOSE this case. All pending motions, if any, are DENIED AS MOOT.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 15th
___ day of September, 2022.

K. MICHAEL MOORE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
c: All counsel of record

2

The Court assumes familiarity with the facts and procedural history, which are set forth in the
R&R. See R&R at 1–6.
2