Knight v. Astrue et al

Filing 35

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION adopting 32 Report and Recommendation, reversing the decision of the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and remanding the action to the Commissioner for further administrative action. Signed by Honorable Richard M Gergel on 03/29/2013. (bshr, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Francine Yvonne Knight,
Plaintiff,
vs.

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Civil Action No. 0: 11-3426-RMG

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Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner
of Social Security,
Defendant.

ORDER

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This matter comes before the Court on an appeal by Plaintiff from the decision of the
Acting Commissioner denying her application for Disability Insurance Benefits and
Supplemental Security Income. The matter was referred to the Magistrate Judge for pre-trial
handling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Civil Rule 73.02 (D.S.C.). The Magistrate
Judge issued a Report and Recommendation on March 13,2013 recommending that the decision
of the Acting Commissioner be reversed and the matter remanded to the Acting Commissioner to
address new and material information presented to the Appeals Council by the claimant's treating
physician, Dr. John M. Downey. (Dkt. No. 32). The Downey letter, dated September 15,2010,
addressed certain findings of Dr. Downey, a pain specialist, and set forth certain opinions
regarding Plaintiff's physical limitations which were inconsistent with other evidence credited by
the Administrative Law Judge. Transcript of Record ("Tr.") at 378. The Downey letter was
included in the record by the Appeals Council but was not weighed by any fact finder or
reconciled with supporting and conflicting evidence in the record. Tr. at 1-4.

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The Commissioner responded to the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation indicating
that she would not file objections. (Dkt. No. 34).
The Court has reviewed the record in this matter as well as the Report and
Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge and the response of the Acting Commissioner. The
Court finds that under the authority of Meyer v. Astrue, 662 F.3d 700, 707 (4th Cir. 2011),
reversal and remand are necessary to reconcile the opinions offered by Plaintiff's treating
physician, Dr. Downey, with other conflicting and supporting evidence in the record. Therefore,
the Court REVERSES the decision of the Acting Commissioner and REMANDS this matter to
the Agency for further action consistent with this order pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. §
405(g).
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

Richard Mark Gerg
United States District Judge
Charleston, South Carolina
March ~7, 2013

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