Boughter v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 18

Opinion & Order signed by Judge James S. Gwin on 1/10/17. The Court adopts Magistrate Judge Greenberg's findings of fact and conclusions of law and incorporates them fully herein by reference. The Court vacates the Commissioner's denial of benefits and remands this case to the Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings. (Related Docs. 1 and 16 ) (D,MA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
-----------------------------------------------------BRENDA BOUGHTER,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant.

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

CASE NO. 1:16-CV-733

OPINION & ORDER
[Resolving Doc. 1]

-----------------------------------------------------JAMES S. GWIN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:
On July 24, 2012, Plaintiff Brenda Boughter applied for Period of Disability and
Disability Insurance Benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act.1 After her application was
denied, Boughter requested that an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) evaluate her application.2
On August 12, 2014, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff Boughter was not disabled within
the meanings of the Social Security Act.3 The Appeals Council denied Boughter’s request for
review.4
On March 24, 2016, Plaintiff Boughter filed this complaint for wrongful denial of
disability insurance benefits.5 Consistent with Local Rule 72.2, the Court referred the matter to
Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg. On December 12, 2016, Magistrate Judge Greenberg
issued a Report and Recommendation, finding the ALJ’s determination was not supported by

1

Doc. 9 at 23; see 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i), 423 et seq.
Id. at 114-22.
3
Id. at 23-35.
4
Id. at 1-6.
5
Doc. 1.
2

Case No. 1:16-CV-733
Gwin, J.
substantial evidence and recommending that this Court vacate the Commissioner’s denial of
disability benefits and remand the case back to the ALJ for further proceedings.6
Specifically, Magistrate Judge Greenberg found that the ALJ failed to set forth “good
reasons” for discounting the opinion of Boughter’s treating physician in favor of opinions from
non-treating physicians.7 On December 27, 2016, the Social Security Commissioner filed notice
that the Social Security Commissioner would not object to Magistrate Judge Greenberg’s report
and recommendation.
The Federal Magistrates Act requires a district court to conduct a de novo review only of
those portions of a Report and Recommendation to which the parties have made an objection.8
The Commissioner of Social Security declined to file any objections in this case.9
Absent objection, a district court may adopt the magistrate judge’s report without
review.10 Moreover, having conducted its own review of the parties’ briefs in this case, the Court
agrees with the conclusions of Magistrate Judge Greenberg.
Accordingly, the Court ADOPTS in whole Magistrate Judge Greenberg’s findings of fact
and conclusions of law and incorporates them fully herein by reference. The Court thus
VACATES the Commissioner’s denial of benefits and REMANDS this case to the
Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 10, 2017

s/
James S. Gwin
JAMES S. GWIN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

6

Doc. 16.
Id. at 33-41.
8
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).
9
Doc. 17.
10
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985).
7

-2-