Mercano v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 22

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION for 13 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings filed by Ismael Mercano, 21 Report and Recommendations, 19 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings filed by Commissioner of Social Security. After careful review of the R&R, the Court finds no clear error and adopts the recommendations of Judge Smith. The instant matter is remanded to the administrative agency for further proceeding consistent with the R&R and this Order. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to terminate the motions(Doc. Nos. 13 and 19). The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Nelson Stephen Roman on 6/13/2017) (anc)

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VSD:-:: SDN'i DOCUMENT ELECTi'.ONlCALLY FILE DOC#: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ---------------------------------------------------------------)( ~/2-oD: !j Di'o'fZ FILED: ! .---·-·~ -- ~-~.-- ·- ·------- -~~~'.....:;-::',"~- ISMAEL MARCANO, :-::~- - 13-cv-3648 (NSR) (LMS) Plaintiff, -against- ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION NANCY A. BERRYHILL, ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant. ---------------------------------------------------------------)( NELSON S. ROMAN, United States District Judge Plaintiff, Ismael Marcano ("Plaintiff' or "Marcano"), commenced this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 40S(g) seeking judicial review of the final determination of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner" or "Defendant"), which denied his application seeking Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") payments. Each party moved pursuant to FRCP 12(c)l for judgment on the pleadings. (ECF Nos. 13, 19). This matter was referred to the Honorable Judge Lisa M. Smith, Magistrate Judge ("Judge Smith"). On March 29, 2017, Judge Smith issued a Report and Recommendation (the "R&R") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and F. R.C.P. § 72(b) recommending that the Commissioner's motion (ECFNo. 19) be denied and Plaintiffs motion (ECF No. 13) be granted. For the following reasons, this Coutt adopts Judge Smith's R&R and directs that the matter be remanded to the Commission for further administrative proceedings. BACKGROUND' On or about December 2010, Plaintiff applied to the Social Security Administration ("SSA") seeking disability benefits alleging he was disabled and unable to work. On or about February 25, 2011, Plaintiffs application was denied. Plaintiff filed a request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). A hearing was held on November 8, 2011 and subsequently on December 1, 2011, the ALJ issued a 1 Facts are taken from the R&R, unless otherwise noted. Page 1 of 3 I i i - decision denying Plaintiffs application for benefits. Plaintiff filed a request for review of the ALJ's determination with the Appeals Council, which was denied on April 24, 2013. Thus, the ALJ's determination denying Plaintiff's application for benefits of December 201 lbecame final. Plaintiff commenced the instant action on or about May 2011 challenging the Commissioner's denial of disability benefits. In his complaint, Plaintiff asse1ts the Commissioner's findings are not supported by substantial evidence and are contrary to law and the rules and regulations of the Social Security Act ("SSA"). More specifically, Plaintiff request this Court reverse the Commissioner's detennination or, in the alternative, request that the matter be remanded for further proceedings. Now before this Court is Judge Smith's R&R recommending the matter be remanded for further administrative proceedings. STANDARD OF REVIEW A magistrate judge may "hear a pretrial matter [that is] dispositive of a claim or defense" if so designated by a district court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(l); accord 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l)(B). In such a case, the magistrate judge "must enter a recommended disposition, including, if appropriate, proposed findings of fact." Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(l); accord 28 U.S.C. § .636(b)(l). Where a magistrate judge issues a report and recommendation, [w]ithin fourteen days after being served with a copy, any party may serve and file written objections to such proposed findings or recommendations as provided by rules of court. A judge of the coUlt shall make a de novo dete1mination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made. A judge of the coUlt may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in pait, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) (emphasis added); accord Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2), (3). However, '"[t]o accept the report and recommendation of a magistrate, to which no timely objection has been made, a district court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record.'" Wilds v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 262 F. Supp. 2d 163, 169 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (emphasis added) (quoting Nelson v. Smith, 618 F. Supp. 1186, 1189 (S.D.N.Y. 1985); accord Feehan v. Feehan, No. 09 Civ. 7016 (DAB), 2011 WL 497776, at* 1 Page 2 of 3 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 10, 2011); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 advisory committee note (1983 Addition, Subdivision (b)) ("When no timely objection is filed, the court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation."). DISCUSSION Here, neither party has objected to Judge Smith's R&R. Therefore, the Comt reviews the recommendation for clear error. The Court finds no error on the face of the R&R. In the R&R, Judge Smith found, inter alia, the ALJ misapplied the treating physician rnle, failed to delineate why, if appropriate, Plaintiffs treating physician's opinions and findings were not entitled to greater deference, and what was the ALJ' s basis for granting greater deference to the consultative examiner's findings. Based on the foregoing, Judge Smith recommends the matter be remanded for further administrative proceeding. CONCLUSION After careful review of the R&R, the Court finds no clear eirnr and adopts the recommendations of Judge Smith. The instant matter is remanded to the administrative agency for further proceeding consistent with the R&R and this Order. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to terminate the motions (Doc. Nos. 13 and 19). The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case. Dated: June 13, 2017 White Plains, New York NS.ROMAN United States District Judge Page 3 of 3

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