Jones v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Filing
17
ORDER adopting report and recommendation. Ordered that the decision of the commissioner is affirmed and the complaint is hereby dismissed with prejudice. Ordered that any motion not previously ruled on is denied. Signed by Judge Ron Clark on 3/7/2017. (bjc, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
MARIA JONES,
Plaintiff,
v.
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.
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§ CASE NO. 6:15-CV-00729-RC-JDL
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ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
On August 5, 2015, Plaintiff initiated the above entitled and numbered civil action
pursuant to Social Security Act, Section 205(g) for judicial review of the Commissioner’s denial
of Plaintiff’s application for Social Security benefits. Doc. No. 1. The case was referred to
United States Magistrate Judge John D. Love pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636. On January 31, 2017,
the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation confirming that the decision of the
Commissioner should be affirmed and the action be dismissed with prejudice. Doc. No. 15
(“R&R”). Plaintiff has filed objections to the Report and Recommendation. Doc. No. 16
(“Obj.”).
Plaintiff objects that the Magistrate Judge “erred in finding that the ALJ correctly
applied the applicable legal standards in assessing Ms. Jones’s credibility [], residual functional
capacity (“RFC”) [], and ability to perform work [], and in finding that substantial evidence
supports those assessments [].” Obj. at 1. Plaintiff then recites the standards for federal court
review of an ALJ’s decision. Id. at 1–2; see also R&R at 2–3. Finally, Plaintiff quotes at length
from her opening brief, concluding with the bare assertion that “the ALJ failed to apply the
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applicable legal standards.” Obj. at 2–3. Plaintiff, however, does not discuss the Magistrate
Judge’s findings in relevant detail in the substance of her objections. See generally Obj. Nor
does Plaintiff provide any specific arguments explaining how the Magistrate Judge erred in his
findings. Id.
Regardless, Plaintiff’s general objections are unavailing.
The Magistrate Judge
thoroughly reviewed the ALJ’s credibility assessment and found that the ALJ properly
considered all the relevant factors, including the objective medical evidence such as the findings
of State agency examiners, in rendering his credibility findings. R&R at 6–11. Therefore, the
Magistrate Judge did not err in finding the ALJ’s credibility findings to be supported by
substantial evidence.
Likewise, the Magistrate Judge properly found that the ALJ’s RFC finding is supported
by substantial evidence. Id. at 11–12. The Magistrate Judge noted that the ALJ adequately
explained the reasoning, appropriately weighed the evidence, and incorporated limitations into
the RFC assessment that were more supported by the record. Id. at 12.
Finally, the Magistrate Judge concluded that the ALJ properly relied on the testimony of
a vocational expert and found that Plaintiff is capable of performing other work that exist in
significant numbers in the national economy. Id. at 12–14. The Court finds no error in the
Magistrate Judge’s findings.
Therefore, the Court hereby adopts the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge
as the findings and conclusions of the Court. It is accordingly ORDERED that the decision of
the Commissioner is AFFIRMED and the complaint is hereby DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE. It is further ORDERED that any motion not previously ruled on is DENIED.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 7 day of March, 2017.
___________________________________
Ron Clark, United States District Judge
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