Coolbaugh v. Astrue

Filing 21

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT of Magistrate Judge Cohn 20 in its entirety, AFFIRMING decision of Commissioner denying Coolbaugh's app for SSI, directing Clrk of Ct to enter JUDGMENT in favor of Commissioner & against Coolbaugh per Para 2, & directing Clrk of Ct to CLOSE case. (See order for complete details.) Signed by Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner on 9/11/14. (ki)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

MICHAEL F. COOLBAUGH,
Plaintiff
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:12-CV-1889
(Chief Judge Conner)

ORDER
AND NOW, this 11th day of September, 2014, upon consideration of the report
(Doc. 20) of Magistrate Judge Gerald B. Cohn, recommending the court dismiss the
appeal (Doc. 1) of plaintiff Michael F. Coolbaugh (“Coolbaugh”) from the decision of the
administrative law judge (“ALJ”) denying his claim for supplemental security income,
wherein Judge Cohn finds the ALJ’s decision to be supported by substantial evidence,
and, after an independent review of the record, the court in full agreement with Judge
Cohn that the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, see 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)
(“The findings of the [Commissioner] as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence,
shall be conclusive.”); see also Fargnoli v. Massanari, 247 F.3d 34, 38 (3d Cir. 2001)
(“Where . . . findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence, [the district court is]
bound by those findings, even if [the court] would have decided the factual inquiry
differently.”), and it appearing that neither Coolbaugh nor the Commissioner of Social

Security1 (“Commissioner”) have objected to the report, and that there is no clear error
on the face of the record,2 see Nara v. Frank, 488 F.3d 187, 194 (3d Cir. 2007) (explaining
that “failing to timely object to [a report and recommendation] in a civil proceeding may
result in forfeiture of de novo review at the district court level”), it is hereby ORDERED
that:
1.

The report (Doc. 20) of Magistrate Judge Cohn is ADOPTED in its entirety.

2.

The decision of the Commissioner denying Michael F. Coolbaugh’s
application for supplemental security income is AFFIRMED.

1

Michael J. Astrue’s term as Commissioner of Social Security expired on
January 19, 2013. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), Carolyn W.
Colvin, who succeeded Astrue and was appointed Acting Commissioner of Social
Security on February 14, 2013, is substituted as defendant in this action. See FED .
R. CIV . P. 25(d) (“An action does not abate when a public officer who is a party in an
official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while the action is
pending. The officer’s successor is automatically substituted as a party.”).
2

When parties fail to file timely objections to a magistrate judge’s report and
recommendation, the Federal Magistrates Act does not require a district court to
review the report before accepting it. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). As a
matter of good practice, however, the Third Circuit expects courts to “afford some
level of review to dispositive legal issues raised by the report.” Henderson v.
Carlson, 812 F.2d 874, 878 (3d Cir. 1987). The advisory committee notes to Rule
72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure indicate that “[w]hen 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.” FED . R. CIV . P. 72(b),
advisory committee notes; see also Henderson, 812 F.2d at 878-79 (stating that “the
failure of a party to object to a magistrate’s legal conclusions may result in the loss
of the right to de novo review in the district court”); Tice v. Wilson, 425 F. Supp. 2d
676, 680 (W.D. Pa. 2006) (holding that the court’s review is conducted under the
“plain error” standard); Cruz v. Chater, 990 F. Supp. 375-78 (M.D. Pa. 1998) (holding
that the court’s review is limited to ascertaining whether there is “clear error on the
face of the record”); Oldrati v. Apfel, 33 F. Supp. 2d 397, 399 (E.D. Pa. 1998) (holding
that the court will review the report and recommendation for “clear error”). The
court reviews the magistrate judge’s report in accordance with this Third Circuit
directive.
2

3.

The Clerk of Court shall enter JUDGMENT in favor of the Commissioner
and against Michael F. Coolbaugh 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