Moody v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 16

Order Adopting the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge. The court hereby affirms the Commissioner's final decision. Related document 15 . Signed by Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. on 7/28/2017. (R,Sh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

KAYLA MOODY,
Plaintiff
v.
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant

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Case No.: 5:16 CV 1168

JUDGE SOLOMON OLIVER, JR.

ORDER

The Acting Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner”) denied Plaintiff Kayla
Moody’s (“Plaintiff”) claim for Supplemental Security Income under Titles XVI of the Social
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 423, 1381 et seq. Plaintiff sought judicial review of the
Commissioner’s decision, arguing that a Sentence Six remand is required for consideration of her
post-hearing treatment notes as new material evidence of the severity of her right hand tremor.
The court referred the case to Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker pursuant to Local Rule
72.2(b) for preparation of a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”). Both parties filed briefs on the
merits. On May 8, 2017, Judge Parker filed his R&R (ECF No. 15), recommending that the court
affirm the Commissioner’s final decision and deny Plaintiff’s request for a Sentence Six remand.
Judge Parker reasoned that Plaintiff’s post-hearing treatment notes were not “new” because they
were “largely cumulative” and, further, that they were not “material” because Plaintiff could not
“establish a reasonable probability that the ALJ would have reached a different decision if he had
considered the evidence.” (R&R 9–13 (quoting Sizemore v. Secretary of H.H.S., 865 F.2d 709, 711

(6th Cir. 1988).) In addition, Judge Parker reasoned that “even if the ALJ erred in not considering
Moody’s tremor to constitute a severe impairment, that error would not be subject to reversal
because the ALJ considered all impairments (including the tremor) at Step Four.” (Id. at 14.)
As of the date of this Order, no objections have been filed to the R&R, thereby waiving the
right to appeal the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation. United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th
Cir. 1981); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985).
After careful review of Judge Parker’s R&R and all other relevant documents in the record,
the court finds no clear error. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b) advisory committee’s note; Thomas v. Arn,
474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985) (“It does not appear that Congress intended to require the district court
review of a magistrate[] [judge’s] factual or legal conclusions, under a de novo or any other standard,
when neither party objects to those findings.”). Thus, the court adopts as its own Judge Parker’s
R&R. (ECF No. 15.) In the alternative, the court finds that, even upon de novo review, Judge
Parker’s findings are well taken, and adopts as its own his R&R for the reasons stated in the R&R.
The court hereby affirms the Commissioner’s final decision.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

/S/ SOLOMON OLIVER, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

July 28 017

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