Aiken v. Astrue

Filing 25

ORDER granting 24 Motion to Remand. Case remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for rehearing and reconsideration. See Order for details. Signed by Chief Judge David R. Herndon on 8/7/13. (klh, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
LACHANDRA AIKEN,
ex rel., Z.B., a minor,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,1
Defendant.

CIVIL NO. 12-cv-601-DRH-CJP

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
HERNDON, Chief Judge:
This matter is now before the Court on the Parties’ Joint Stipulation for
Remand. (Doc. 24).
There are only two avenues for remanding a social security case. Remand
can be ordered pursuant to sentence four or to sentence six of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
A sentence four remand depends upon a finding of error, and is itself a final,
appealable order. In contrast, a sentence six remand is for the purpose of receipt
of new evidence, but does not determine whether the Commissioner’s decision as
rendered was correct. A sentence six remand is not an appealable order.

See,

Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89 (1991); Perlman v. Swiss Bank Corporation
Comprehensive Disability Protection Plan, 195 F.3d 975, 978 (7th Cir. 1999).

Carolyn W. Colvin was named Acting Commissioner of Social Security on February 14, 2013. She
is automatically substituted as defendant in this case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d); 42 U.S.C. §405(g)
("Any action instituted in accordance with this subsection shall survive notwithstanding any
change in the person occupying the office of Commissioner of Social Security or any vacancy in
such office.").
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Here, the parties stipulate that this case should be remanded pursuant to
sentence four for a de novo hearing and reassessment of the evidence.

In

accordance with Schaefer v. Shalala, 509 U.S. 292, 302-303 (1993), judgment
will be entered in favor of plaintiff.
The Court has some concern over the length of time that the minor’s
application has been pending. The application was filed in August, 2008, and the
ALJ issued his decision in August, 2010. (Tr. 35-43). Administrative remedies
were not completed until March, 2012, when the Appeals Council denied review.
(Tr. 1). While recognizing that the agency has a full docket, the Court urges the
Commissioner to expedite this matter to the extent practicable.
For good cause shown, the Parties’ Joint Stipulation for Remand (Doc. 24)
is GRANTED.
The final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying the
application for social security benefits filed on behalf of Z.B. is REVERSED and
REMANDED to the Commissioner for rehearing and reconsideration of the
evidence, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g).
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Digitally signed by
David R. Herndon
Date: 2013.08.07
16:20:39 -05'00'

DATED: August 7, 2013

Chief Judge
United States District Court

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