Ford v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 28

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION adopting 23 Report and Recommendation, Signed by Honorable Richard M Gergel on 4/9/18. (jsmi, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Janet Yvonne Ford,

)
)

Plaintiff,
vs.

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)
)

Civil Action No. 8:17-230-RMG

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Nancy A. Berrryhill, Acting Commissioner )
of Social Security,
)
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Defendant.
)

ORDER

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This matter comes before the Court for judicial review of the final decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security denying Plaintiffs application for Disability Insurance Benefits
("DIB") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI"). In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and
Local Rule 73.02, D.S.C., this matter was referred to the United States Magistrate Judge for
pretrial handling. The Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation (R & R) on
March 23, 2018, recommending that the decision of the Commissioner be reversed and remanded
to the agency because of the failure of the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") to provide an
adequate basis under the Treating Physician Rule, 20 C.F.R. 404.1527(c) and 416.927(c), to
justify the assigning of little or no weight to the opinions of Plaintiffs treating and examining
physicians and according controlling weight to the opinions of the non-examining and nontreating physicians. (Dkt. No. 23 at 22-25). The Commissioner has advised the Court that she
does not intend to file objections to the R & R. (Dkt. No. 25).
The Court has reviewed the R & R and the record evidence and finds that the Magistrate

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Judge has ably addressed the factual and legal issues in this matter. Therefore, the Court

ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation as the order of this Court, REVERSES the decision
of the Commissioner pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and REMANDS the
matter to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this order. In light of the
protracted nature of the administrative proceedings in this matter, now exceeding five years, the
Court directs rehearing before the ALJ be held within 75 days of this order, a decision of the ALJ
issued 30 days thereafter, and Appeals Council review within 60 days after the ALJ's decision.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

Richard Mark Gergel
United States District Judge

Charleston, South Carolina
April i_, 2018

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