Seesoltz v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 13

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT 12 of Magistrate Judge Carlson, AFFIRMING decision of Commissioner denying app for period of disability & disability ins benefits of Seesoltz, directing Clrk of Ct to enter jdgmt in favor of Commissioner & against Seesoltz & to CLOSE case. (See order for complete details.) Signed by Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner on 8/9/17. (ki)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
THOMAS THURSTON SEESOLTZ, II,
Plaintiff
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,1
Defendant

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:16-CV-1808
(Chief Judge Conner)

ORDER
AND NOW, this 9th day of August, 2017, upon consideration of the report (Doc.
12) of Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson, recommending the court deny the appeal of
Thomas Thurston Seesoltz, II (“Seesoltz”), from the decision of the administrative law
judge denying his application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits,
and it appearing that Seesoltz did not object to the report, see FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b)(2),
and the court observing that failure of a party to timely object to a magistrate judge’s
conclusions “may result in forfeiture of de novo review at the district court level,” Nara
v. Frank, 488 F.3d 187, 194 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Henderson v. Carlson, 812 F.2d 874, 87879 (3d Cir. 1987)), but that, as a matter of good practice, a district court should “afford
some level of review to dispositive legal issues raised by the report,” Henderson, 812
F.2d at 878; see also Taylor v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 83 F. Supp. 3d 625, 626 (M.D. Pa.
2015) (citing Univac Dental Co. v. Dentsply Int’l, Inc., 702 F. Supp. 2d 465, 469 (M.D. Pa.

1

Carolyn W. Colvin (“Colvin”) was Acting Commissioner of Social Security
when the instant action was filed against her in her official capacity. On January
23, 2017, Nancy A. Berryhill succeeded Colvin as Acting Commissioner. Pursuant
to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), Nancy A. Berryhill is substituted as the
defendant in this action. See FED. R. CIV. P. 25(d).

2010)), in order to “satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record,”
FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b), advisory committee notes, and, following an independent review
of the record, the court being in agreement with Judge Carlson that the decision of
the administrative law judge is “supported by substantial evidence,” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g);
Fargnoli v. Massanari, 247 F.3d 34, 38 (3d Cir. 2001), and concluding that there is no
clear error on the face of the record, it is hereby ORDERED that:
1.

The report (Doc. 12) of Magistrate Judge Carlson is ADOPTED.

2.

The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”)
denying the application for a period of disability and disability insurance
benefits of Thomas Thurston Seesoltz, II (“Seesoltz”), is AFFIRMED.

3.

The Clerk of Court shall enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner and
against Seesoltz as set forth in paragraph 2.

4.

The Clerk of Court is directed to CLOSE this case.

/S/ CHRISTOPHER C. CONNER
Christopher C. Conner, Chief Judge
United States District Court
Middle District of Pennsylvania