Wilson v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION ; signed by Magistrate Judge Joseph G. Scoville (Magistrate Judge Joseph G. Scoville, mmh)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION

COUNTEE WILSON, III,

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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COMMISSIONER OF
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SOCIAL SECURITY,
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Defendant.
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____________________________________)

Case No. 1:13-cv-1121
Honorable Joseph G. Scoville
MEMORANDUM OPINION

This is a social security action brought pro se by Countee Wilson, III. Pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the parties voluntarily
consented to have a United States magistrate judge conduct all further proceedings in this case,
including entry of final judgment. (docket # 12). The matter is before the court on a motion to
dismiss plaintiff’s complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. (docket # 4). Defendant filed
this motion on December 18, 2013. Plaintiff has elected not to file a response. For the reasons set
forth herein, defendant’s motion will be granted and judgment will be entered dismissing plaintiff’s
complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
Plaintiff’s disability insured status expired on June 30, 1975. On March 9, 2005, he
filed an application for disability insurance benefits (DIB) claiming an onset of disability in 1974.
His claim was denied on initial review. In 2007, he received a hearing before an administrative law
judge (ALJ). On April 18, 2007, the ALJ held that plaintiff was not entitled to DIB benefits. The
Appeals Council denied review. On September 25, 2009, plaintiff filed a pro se lawsuit in this court

seeking judicial review of the Commissioner’s final administrative decision denying his claim for
DIB benefits. On July 7, 2011, District Judge Janet T. Neff entered a judgment affirming the
Commissioner’s decision. Wilson v. Commissioner, No. 1:09-cv-878 (W.D. Mich. July 7, 2011).
Plaintiff did not pursue an appeal of the judgment.
On July 31, 2012, plaintiff filed another application for DIB benefits. On December
19, 2012, an ALJ issued an order dismissing plaintiff’s request for a hearing because res judicata
(claim preclusion) barred his claim. On October 11, 2013, plaintiff filed his pro se complaint in this
case. Once again, he claims entitlement to DIB benefits beginning in 1974. Plaintiff’s complaint
is devoid of any reference to case number 1:09-cv-878 or to Judge Neff’s judgment affirming the
Commissioner’s decision finding that he was not entitled to DIB benefits.
“The plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that jurisdiction exists.” Taylor v.
KeyCorp, 680 F.3d 609, 612 (6th Cir. 2012). The Supreme Court’s decision in Califano v. Sanders,
430 U.S. 99, 107-09 (1977), and the Sixth Circuit’s decisions in Cottrell v. Sullivan, 987 F.2d 342,
344-45 (6th Cir. 1992), and Ingram v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 830 F.2d 67 (6th Cir.
1987) firmly establish that the court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction. The Commissioner’s decision
refusing to reopen the earlier administrative decisions, dismissing plaintiff’s request for a hearing,
and dismissing his claim for DIB benefits is not a final administrative decision subject to review
under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

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Conclusion
Defendant’s motion to dismiss (docket # 4) is granted. Judgment will enter
dismissing plaintiff’s complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.

Dated: April 3, 2014

/s/ Joseph G. Scoville
United States Magistrate Judge

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