Searcy v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 24

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER granting the Commissioner's 18 Motion to Remand; reversing the Commissioner's final decision and remanding the case for an administrative hearing and further development of the record. Signed by Judge Norman A. Mordue on 8/20/2012. (amt) [Pltf served via reg. mail]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
________________________________________
MILTON R. SEARCY,
Plaintiff Pro Se,
vs.

6:10-CV-1294 (NAM)

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MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Defendant.
________________________________________
APPEARANCES:

OF COUNSEL:

Milton R. Searcy, Pro Se
Rome, New York
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Social Security Administration
Office of Regional General Counsel
Region II
26 Federal Plaza - Room 3904
New York, New York 10278

Elizabeth D. Rothstein,
Special Assistant United States Attorney

Norman A. Mordue, Chief U.S. District Judge
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
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I.

INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff pro se Milton R. Searcy filed this action pursuant to Section 205(g) of the Social

Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Plaintiff seeks review of the decision by the Commissioner of
Social Security (the “Commissioner”), defendant, to deny plaintiff’s application for retirement
insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. Presently before the Court is a motion by the
Commissioner to remand this action for further administrative proceedings pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
405.

On August 7, 2009, plaintiff filed a claim for retirement insurance benefits. Administrative
Record, p.9 (“R. 9”). On September 25, 2009, plaintiff’s claim was denied on the ground that he
did not have enough “work credits”1 to meet the insured status requirements. R. 9. On November
9, 2009, the Commissioner denied plaintiff’s request for reconsideration. R.9. On November 10,
2009, plaintiff requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”). R. 9.
On March 17, 2010, ALJ John M. Lischak issued an order finding that, under the doctrine
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of res judicata, the Commissioner’s previous consideration and denial of plaintiff’s application for
disability insurance and supplemental security income benefits barred review of plaintiff’s
application for retirement insurance benefits. R. 9. The ALJ explained:

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The undersigned has compared the evidence considered in reaching the previous
decision with that relating to the claimant’s current claim. Based on this comparison,
the undersigned finds that no new and material evidence has been submitted and that
there has been no change in statute, regulation, ruling or legal precedent concerning
the facts and issues ruled upon in connection with the previously adjudicated period.
R. 10. Consequently, the ALJ dismissed plaintiff’s request for a hearing. R. 10.
On August 24, 2010, the Appeals Council denied plaintiff’s request for review. This action
followed.
III.

DISCUSSION
In reviewing a final decision by the Commissioner under 42 U.S.C. § 405, the Court must

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examine the administrative record to ascertain whether the correct legal standards were applied
and whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence. See Shaw v. Chater, 221 F.3d 126,
131 (2d Cir. 2000); Schaal v. Apfel, 134 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1998). “Substantial evidence

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Title 29 C.F.R. § 404.115 contains a table for determining how many quarters of
coverage are necessary to be fully insured for retirement insurances purposes. The
Commissioner asserts that based on his age plaintiff needed 40 quarters of coverage.
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means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a
conclusion.” Curry v. Apfel, 209 F.3d 117, 122 (2d Cir. 2000) (citing Richardson v. Perales, 402
U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
The Commissioner asserts that remand is required because the ALJ erroneously found,
under res judicata, that the denial of plaintiff’s application for disability benefits barred review of
plaintiff’s application for retirement insurance benefits. The regulations authorize an ALJ to
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dismiss a hearing request entirely when: “The doctrine of res judicata applies in that we have made
a previous determination or decision under this subpart about your rights on the same facts and on
the same issue or issues, and this previous determination or decision has become final by either
administrative or judicial action . . . .” 20 C.F.R. § 404.957(c)(1).
In this case, as the Commissioner acknowledges, plaintiff seeks retirement insurance

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benefits. The determination on which the ALJ relied to find that res judicata applied, however,
concerned plaintiff’s application for disability insurance and supplemental security income
benefits. Thus, the facts and issues are different and res judicata does not apply. Accordingly,
remand is required.
The Commissioner requests that the Court remand this matter for further development of
the record, not for a calculation of benefits, so that the ALJ can “offer Plaintiff the opportunity for

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a hearing”. Dkt. No. 18-1, p.5. “‘Where there are gaps in the administrative record or the ALJ has
applied an improper legal standard, we have, on numerous occasions, remanded to the
[Commissioner] for further development of the evidence.’” Pratts v. Chater, 94 F.3d 34, 39 (2d
Cir. 1996) (quoting Parker v. Harris, 626 F.2d 225, 235 (2d Cir.1980)) (alteration in original). In
contrast, where there is “no apparent basis to conclude that a more complete record might support

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the Commissioner's decision,” the Court may “simply remand for a calculation of benefits.” Rosa
v. Callahan, 168 F.3d 72, 83 (2d Cir. 1999). In this case, it would be premature to remand for a
calculation of retirement benefits when an administrative hearing has not yet been held.
Accordingly, the Commissioner’s motion to remand this matter for further development of the
record is granted.
IV.

CONCLUSION

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For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the Commissioner’s Motion for Remand (Dkt. No. 18) is Granted; and it
is further
ORDERED that the Commissioner’s final decision is Reversed; and it is further
ORDERED that this case is Remanded for an administrative hearing and further

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development of the record; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter judgment for Plaintiff and close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: August 20, 2012

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