JACOBS v. COLVIN

Filing 19

ORDER denying 15 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting 17 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Donetta W. Ambrose on 1/20/17. (ask)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
JOHN JACOBS

)

) No. 15-1614
)

v.
CAROLYN W. COL VIN

MEMORANDUM ORDER
Plaintiff filed an application for supplemental social security disability and disability
insurance benefits, pursuant to Title II of the Social Security Act, based on allegations of
physical and mental impairment. Plaintiffs application was denied initially, and upon hearing
before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). The Appeals Council denied his request for
review. Plaintiff now appeals to this Court. For the following reasons, Plaintiffs Motion will be
denied, and Defendant's granted.
Judicial review of the Commissioner's final decisions on disability claims is provided by
statute. 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) 6 and 1383(c)(3) 7. Section 405(g) permits a district court to review
the transcripts and records upon which a determination of the Commissioner is based, and the
court will review the record as a whole. See 5 U.S.C. §706. When reviewing a decision, the
district court's role is limited to determining whether the record contains substantial evidence to
support an ALJ's findings of fact. Burns v. Barnhart, 312 F.3d 113, 118 (3d Cir. 2002).
Substantial evidence is defined as "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate" to support a conclusion. Ventura v. Shalala, 55 F.3d 900, 901 (3d Cir. 1995) (quoting
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S. Ct. 1420, 28 L. Ed. 2d 842 (1971)). If the ALJ's

findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence, they are conclusive. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g);
Richardson, 402 U.S. at 390.
A district court cannot conduct a de nova review of the Commissioner's decision, or reweigh the evidence of record; the court can only judge the propriety of the decision with
reference to the grounds invoked by the Commissioner when the decision was rendered. Palmer
v. Apfel, 995 F.Supp. 549, 552 (E.D. Pa. 1998); S.E.C. v. Chenery Corn., 332 U.S. 194, 196 - 97,
67 S. Ct. 1575, 91L.Ed.1995 (1947).

Otherwise stated, "I may not weigh the evidence or

substitute my own conclusion for that of the ALJ. I must defer to the ALJ's evaluation of
evidence, assessment of the credibility of witnesses, and reconciliation of conflicting expert
opinions. If the ALJ's findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence, I am bound by those
findings, even ifl would have decided the factual inquiry differently." Brunson v. Astrue, 2011
U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55457 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 14, 2011) (citations omitted).
Plaintiff argues, rather straightforwardly, that the ALJ's residual functional capacity
assessment ("RFC") is not supported, because it is against the weight of the evidence.

As

indicated supra, on review, I cannot ask whether there is evidence in favor of disability, or
whether I would have reached a conclusion different from that below; I cannot reweigh the
evidence. Instead, I am permitted only to assess whether substantial evidence supports the ALJ's
decision. In this case, I must conclude that it does.
I have carefully reviewed the ALJ's analysis. Plaintiff does not assert that the ALJ erred
with respect to any particular physician or alleged impairment, but instead erred because multiple
physicians found multiple symptoms and clinical findings; and because those physicians'
opinions or records reflected impairments more severe than indicated by the RFC. The ALJ
reviewed Plaintiffs treatment history and records, including those relating to Drs. Slivka, Wolfe,

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Kochik, and Raymundo. As to each source, the ALJ explained the weight afforded, and the
reasons for that weight. It is axiomatic that an ALJ is entitled to accept or reject evidence, so
long as he explains his legitimate reasons for doing so. In this case, Plaintiffs Motion must be
denied, and Defendant's granted.
AND NOW, this

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IS SO

ORDERED.
BY THE COURT:
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Donetta W. Ambrose
Senior Judge, U.S. District Court

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