Cook v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 16

ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION. All of the Plaintiff's objections are overruled. The findings of fact and conclusions of law are correct and the report of the magistrate judge is adopted. Signed by Judge Marcia A. Crone on 9/29/16. (mrp, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

LESLIE D. COOK,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant

EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§

No. 1:15-CV-00316-MAC-KFG

ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
The Plaintiff requests judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social
Security Administration with respect to her application for disability-based benefits. This matter
has been referred to the Honorable Keith Giblin, United States Magistrate Judge, at Beaumont,
Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this court. The magistrate
judge submitted a report recommending that the decision of the Commissioner be affirmed. The
court has considered the report and recommendation filed on September 15, 2016 (Doc. No. 14)
and the Plaintiff’s objections (Doc. No. 15). The court has conducted a de novo review of the
objections in relation to the pleadings and the applicable law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). After
careful consideration, the court concludes that the Plaintiff’s objections are without merit.
Plaintiff objects to the magistrate judge to the extent that he relied on finding that Ms.
Cook’s participation constituted significant services. Plaintiff argues that Cook’s services were
administrative rather than managerial or significant. The magistrate judge correctly determined
that the ALJ properly considered Cook as self-employed and took into consideration the
regulations that state: “supervisory, managerial, advisory or other significant personal services

rendered by self-employed individuals demonstrate an ability to engage in substantial gainful
activity.” 404.1532(f). Dolbashian v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 688 F.2d 4, 5–6 (1st Cir.
1982). The magistrate judge found that the ALJ correctly applied the regulations that specifically
recognized that the services performed by a self-employed individual may be more intangible in
nature and it is those intangible contributions that the ALJ found to be significant.
The court concludes that the magistrate judge correctly identified and discussed the point
of error argued by plaintiff and analyzed the point correctly. The magistrate judge properly
examined the entire record to determine that substantial evidence supports the administrative law
judge’s assessments and determinations and the Commissioner’s denial of benefits.
Accordingly, all of the Plaintiff’s objections are OVERRULED. The findings of fact and
conclusions of law of the magistrate judge are correct and the report of the magistrate judge is
ADOPTED. A final judgment will be entered in this case in accordance with the magistrate

.
judges recommendation.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 7th day of September, 2004.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 29th day of September, 2016.

________________________________________
MARCIA A. CRONE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

2