Wood v. Berryhill

Filing 29

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/20/18. (jcj)

CL SAT CE U.3. ST, URT
ERK' OFFI
DI K
ROANOKE,VA
F
IED
L

I THE U NI
N
TED STA TES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE W ESTERN DISTRI OF V I GI A
CT
R NI
CHARLOTTESV I
LLE D I I ON
V SI

NzV 22 2 1
28
B

J ul
A

w.
.

LYLA GOFF W OOD ,

.

DU L

Ci lA cton N o.3:
vi i
18CV 00004
M EM O R ANDU M O PI N
NIO

By: o Gl n E. r d
H n. e Con a
Seni Unied St t D it i Judge
or t
a es s rct

Def
endant
.

By me o a m o ni n a or r e t r d Augus 31,201 t c ur r m a d t s
m r ndu pi o nd de n e e
t
8, he o t e nde hi
cas t t Com m i oner of Soci Securt f f t consi aton of pl ntf's cl m s f
e o he
ssi
al
iy or urher
der i
ai if ai or

di a lt i ur nc be ft a d s ppl m e als c iy i om e be ft u rt So a Se urt
s biiy ns a e ne is n u e nt e urt nc
ne is nde he ci l c iy

Ac,asa nde 4 U. C.jj41 i a 423,a 42U. C.j 1 e s q.rs ci l The
t me d, 2 S.
6() nd
nd
S.
381 t e , epe tvey.

Co sin rh sn w tldamoint atro a n j d me tp ru n t Rue5 ()o t
mmiso e a o se
t o l r me d u g n u s a t o l 9 e f he
o
e
Fe er Rul s of Ci l Pr e ur The pl n if has fl d a r po e t t e m oto H a ng
d al e
vi oc d e.
ai tf
ie
es ns o h
i n. vi
c i r d t pa te 'a gum e t ,t c r c ude t a t m oto m us be de e
onsde e he ri s r
n s he ou t oncl s h t he i n
t
ni d.

( Rùl 5 e moin ma begrne o y i t e st to ::1 t a c
$
A e 9() to y
a td nl n hre iuains 4) o c ommodaea
t n
i e v ni c ngei c ntoli lw;( t a c untf ne e de eno a ia ea til or
ntr e ng ha n o r lng a 2) o c o or w vi nc t valbl t ra;
'.
J'
h
-

..

( )t c re tace rer ro lw o p e e tmaik tij sie, M a d v.N at1A s , f
3 o orc la ro f a r rv n $J s nu tc , vfel
ri
'
l
j
,
, sn or
.

St kCa AuoRa na,67 F. 3 378( hCi.201 (uotngZi ndv.Br 478F.
oc r t ci
4 3d 69, 4t r 2) q i nka
own,
3d
63 63 ( h Ci.200 ) tti a e ror n y rme y t ts dbea ids rngl 'a
4, 7 4t r 7).C s n xta diar e d ha houl
l
pple pai y' nd
onl i t xc pto c r um san es' l The r e d a no be us d t r ii t o1 m a tr ,or
y n E e i nal ic t c . d.
e
'
ul ç y t
m
e o el ga e d te s
t
t r i e a gume s or pr s nt e de e t t c ul ha b n r i e pr o t t e r of
o as r
nt
e e vi nc ha o d ve ee a s d i r o he nty

j
udgmen. Exxo Shipi Co.v.Ba r 55 U. 471 48 n. ( )(iai a itr
t'
'
n p ng
ke, 4 S. , 6 5 2008 ctton nd nenal
quoai makso te )
tton r mitd .

CLERK

(R
-K
E

Pl ntf,
ai if

NAN CY A .BERRYH I A c i
LL, tng
Com m is o rofSoc a Se rt
s i ne
i l cu iy,

,

Ap yi g t es prnc pl s t c tc l s t a t Com m i sone i no e tte t
pl n h e i i e , he our onc ude h t he
s i r s t n il d o

r ifunde Rul 59() I h rmoto t Commiso rfrtague t tt Ad nitai
ele
r e e. n e
in, he
s ine is r s ha he mi srtve
Law J
udge adequat y as sed t opi ons of D r Elzabet Hr r, w ho per or ed a
el ses
he
ni
. i
h nci
f m

co ula i ps hol gi ale l ton a t r que to t s a e ag nc Fo t r as s a e i
ns t tve yc o c va ua i t he e s f he t t e y. r he e ons t t d n
t c r ' pr vi m e o a
he ou ts e ous m r ndum o ni n,t c ur i una e t a r e. As s t f t i m or
pi o he o t s bl o g e
e orh n
e

deai i t to ni Ms Woodha ahit yofte t ntfrde eson. ( .51 511 66
t l n ha pi on, .
s sor rame o prsi Tr 0, , 6,
6 698 7 a . ) Bae o t ci c i e ve a me alsause mi to Dr
97, , 09, nd 758 . sd n he lnial ntr iw nd nt tt xa nain, .

Hrci' dignosi i e sons i l d S j r de r si diode ,rc rnt modeae t
n rs a tc mprsi ncude G o p esve s r r e ure ,
ma
rt o
svee' ( .555.Shea sse M s W oo sf tona lmiai a flo :
e r. Tr )
'
ses d . d' unci li ttons s olws
M s.W ood ca per or si pl and re ttve t ks butm a have
n f m m e
pe ii as
y
dif uly wih c pl x a de aie t s bec us of he
fk t
t om e nd t l d a ks
a e
r
s pt s . . . .M s W ood w il ne d a dii nal s r i i n t
ym om
.
l e d to
upe v s o o
c
ompl t w o k ac i te on a c ns s e ba i , m a nt n r g a
e e r tvii s
o it nt s s i ai e ulr
a t nd nc i t w or a e,a c pl t a no m a w o kda M s
te a e n he kpl c nd om e e
r l r y. .
W ood i no e t d t h ve dit uly a ce i i tuc i
s t xpec e o a
fk t c ptng nsr tons
f o s pe vio s M s W ood' s pt î w il i f u nc he
rm u r sr .
.
s ym om
l n le e r
i e a to w ih c w o ke s an t publc. M s W o m a s
nt r c i ns t o r r d he
i
. od y how
a m odera e t s e exacer i of s pt s t t us
t o ever
baton
ym om o he ual
s r s e e oun e e i co pe ii w or
t e s s nc t r d n m ttve k.

( . 4- )
Tr 55 55.
I e l tng pl i tf' r i l f to c pa t t La J
n va ua i
a n ifs esdua unc i nal a ciy, he F udge ga Dr H m ci'
ve .
rs

opi ons G rilweght'l ( .25) Alho te La J ge fund t t Dr Hr ci'
ni t ta i . Tr . t ugh h w ud o
pa
'
ha . n rs
e mi to G u t lmii t cama t smpl r utne r pe ii t ks a l sr s
xa na in ç ppors i tng he li nt o i e o i e ttve as nd ow te s
s

wor ' h a rnl rj cedDr Hr i' opi onta pli ifwilne da dii ls r so
k's e ppae ty ee t . ncrs ni h t antf l e d tona upeviin
t fnih w or actvii on a conss ent bass, m ai ai r ar atendance, and complt a
o
s
k i tes
it
i
nt n egul
t
ee
'

!
udge not d t t çf t r lm ia i i t c ai a '
e ha Gurhe i t tons n he l m nt s
non wor a ( .25) The Law J
rpl kd y. Tr .

J

1 Th La J e, a s sm e of pl n ifs rsd f tona c pact i l d t f l ng
e w udg s s e s nt
aitf' e iual unci l a iy ncude he olowi
none ri lm iai :KI e cama i lm ie t sm pl r i r eii ts ,s rii c ntctwih t
xe t
onal i ttons '' li nt s i td o i e outne ep ttve m ks upefcal o a
h
t he

p bi, n lw srs wok, a ign hg po u t nq oa o fsp cdasmby' (r20.
u l a d o tes r menn o ih rd ci u ts r at a e se l. T . )
c
o
'

l

l
2
i

a it s aèn twarne ' sn e Ms Wo d Ee ald te frta d c re tp e ie t o te
bli r o ra td' ic . o ' c l h is n urn rsd n s f h
ie
r e
U nie St t s he bi t da e a , a r s , ph
t d a e , r rh t , ge dd e s one num be , ye r o ai d GED , a a e of
r a bt ne
nd g
(
boyfi n 5 o d ugh e ,a br t er' a s nc s S a a e t s l t e dif r ntw or
r e d, s n, a t r nd o h r nd i e he s s bl o pe l hr e f e e
'
w
ds

ba kwar i:Tr 25.
c ds' ( . )
'
i
As !he cour pr ousy expl ned, i i not enough f a Law Judge t m er y
t
t evi l
ai
t s
or
o
el
i
(

(S
(umma i l e de et t(he Gn )ce blyusf ,a c itn. W o v.Ber hil
rzéj vi nc ha s
ds rdi e eul nd onsse t' ods
'
ry l,
J'

8 8F.d( 6 6 4(t Ci. 01) nta ,teLa J d e( s b t ietf e ie c ta
8 3 8 , 9 4h r 2 8.Ised h w u g s t oh d niy vd n e h t
mu
sppors(!i c ncusona Suida a c aea l c brdg fo t te d nc t ( r
u t heI) o l i nd b l n c urt nd ogial i e r m ha vie e o he)
lI

co uso irgadi t cama tsrsdua f ci alc pa t l (nena quoai maks
ncl inr;e r ng he li n' e i l un ton a ciy. d. itr l ttons r
'
'

.

f$

an a to latrto o te (mpha i i oi nal.Hee t La J gen ve e pli d
d ddiing leains mitd) e ss n rgi ) r ,he w ud e r x ane
;i

ho s c ! l ed ba e on t pli ifs a lt t r c ls h b i i o ma i a he
w he bpcud - s d
he antf biiy o e al uc asc nf r tqn s r
ir
2
a e s phone nu be ,a a - t tpl i ifc d fnih w or ac i teson a c it ntb i ,
ddr s , I
m r nd ge ha a ntf oul i s
k tvii
ons se ass
.

m a nt i r gul r a t nda e a c m pl t a no m a w o kda wih a tona s pe v s on.
i a n ç a te nc , nd o e e
r l r y t out ddii l u r i i
l1

Co e e y t co trmansc vi e t tt La J e f ld t buid a lgi lbrdge
ns qu nt he ur e i on nc d ha he w udg aie o l o ca i
:L

f o t ç de e s r o t d t he c l i ns r ga di pl i tf r s d l f nc i nal
r m he vl nc he ec un e o r onc us o e r ng a n ifs e i ua u to
'

,
;

c pa t jè i. Whiet Commisone obvi l dia e swih t c ur' c nclli
a ciy. e g.
a
l he
si r ousy sgre t he o ts o tson,
.

ç
:

)
,
,
chi on
at
2d
mee dia : e n d snots po ta Rul 5 e moto H ut ns v.St on, 994 F.
r sgy me t oe
e
up r
e 9() in.
l

1 ,1 2(t Ci.1 3) Nordot Commiso rsef t t pr depos hocj tfc to
076 08 4h r 99 .
he
sine' fors o ovi
t usiiains
f

f t La J e' de iin.Se Fr nzv. tu 5 F. 1 1 2( 0t Ci. 07)Cçor he w udg s cso
e a t Asre, 09 3d 299, 30 1 h r20
-he
l
:i

Co si rsp s h cag me ts p ligp sil ra o frteALJSs e n rj cin
mmisc ' o t o ru n u pyn o sbe e sns o h
mr
' e mig ee t
o
j

ofM s Young 'opii i una iig.lz
.
s nons s valn ' '
zFor' tnc t Co s i rct st t opi o oft non- mi ng saeage y c ula s
i a e,he mmisone ie o he nins he
ns
exa ni tt nc ons tnt,

who f u d t a p an ifs me t li ar e ti no s v r . Ho v r t e La J g g v t e e o i o
o n h t li tf' n a mp im n s t e e e
we e , h w ud e a e h s pnins

çit weg t)snc t e ie c R e n tae te cama tha a sv r me tli ar n ' ( .26 .
çtl ih, i e he vd n e d mo srts h li n s e ee na mp ime t' Tr )
l e
'
'
M o eo r t La J
r ve , hej w udgedi nots ciial r y on s h opi onsi eeci t a or pa talweghtt Dr
d
pe fc ly el
uc
ni n l tng o cc d ri i o .
Hr rsas e s
nci' s s mentofpl ntf' f tonallmiai
ai ifs nnci
i ttons.
. 1

3

'

T rJ u t s as rjc teCo sin rsag me tt a t eLa J d ea e u tl
h ! o r mu t lo ee t h mmiso e , r u n h t h w u g d q aey
è!
:
l

a o td frt mod ae lmiai i c e tai pesse e orpa etats fund a
cc une J he ert i ttons n onc nrton, ritnc ,
c h he o
t
iI
ki

se trec h sq eta e au to po es Cin ted cso o teUni dSae Co ro
tp he ste e u nil v lain rcs. t g h eiin fh t tts ut f
i
e
J
Ap e l fiieFo rhCic ii M acov. li, 8 F.d6 2(t Ci. 0 5 ,h c u t ue
p as o h u t rutn s i Covn 7 0 3 3 4h r 2 1 ) t e o r r ld
'

t t La* J
hat he
udge f l t e ai how pl ntf ' m oder e lm iatons i concent ton,
aied o xpl n
ai if s
at i t i
n
ra i

pe s se e'br pa e w e e a e s d by vi t e of a fndi o lm ia i t Ssm pl r utne
r it nc j!
c
r ddr s e
ru
i ng f i t ton o ti e o i
.

r peii t s ,s ri ilc a twih t publc a 1 w sr s wor 'whih s de i d a
e ttve a ks upe fca ontc t he i, nd o te s k' c he fne s

G a ngnohi pr ci quoa o fs plc da smbl ' ( .20 .Thec tobsr e t t
G ni
me
gh odu ton ts r at a e se y. Tr )
'
our e v d ha
t a lt t pe f m s mpl t ks doe no ne e s r l e t w ih t a lt t sa on t s
he biiy o r or i e as
s t c s a iy qua e t he biiy o t y
a k,

a t tSl nl t lte lmiain woul a c ntf acli n ' lmiain i c nce rton,
nd ha tol y he atr i tto
d c ou or ama ts i tto n o ntai
per it
s sence,orpace.' M asci 780 F. at638.
'
o,
3d

I t i t ntm oton,t Com m is one a gu t a S a c o i i ppost , gi n t t
n he nsa
i he
s i r r es h t s s i s na
M
ie ' ve ha
'
t La J ge di notm e e y lm i pl n ift s m pl ,r utn t s or uns led w o k. De -s
he w ud
d
r l i t ai tf o i e o i e a ks
kil
r
f'
M ot t Ale orA m e J 8,Dkt N o.27. H o e r aspr vi us y not d,M a c o unde s or s
. o tr
nd .
.
w ve ,
e o l
e
si
rc e
t La J ge' d y t e pl i ho he r i l f tona c pa iy indi ad qua el
he w ud s ut o x a n w r esdua unc i l a c t
ngs e t y
a c t f r a cl i a t s w o k- e a e lm ia i ns Se i H e e whie t La J e a s
c oun o
a m n ' r r l t d i t to . e d. r , l he w udg lo

rsrce pli ift Eu riilc tc wihtepublc'a tow srs wor 't La J ge
etitd antf o i pefca ona t t h
s
i ' nd & tes k' he w ud
l
f ie t e a n ho s h lm ia i ns s f i e ty a c m oda e pl i tf m od r t dit uli s
a l d o kpl i w uc i t to u fci n l c om
t a n ips
e a e fk te

wihc e tai pesse c o pa e.( . ) Acc r ngl t c ur rmansc nvi e t t
t onc nrton, ritn e, r c Tr 20 . odi y,he o te i o nc d ha
r m a i a r i t Se e. ,W a e sv. rvhil N o.5: 7- v- 0035 201 U . D it LEXI
e nd s pp opra e. e. R. t r Be r l,
1 c 0
, 8 S. s .
S

1 34,a * -22( . Va Aug.1 2018,rpo ta rc
358 t 20 W D. .
3, ) e r nd e omme tona td,DktNo.24
ndai dope
.
( . Va Se .1 201 )(o l ngt trma wa rquie unde Masi e n t ght
W D. . pt 0, 8 c ncudi ha e nd s e rd
r co ve hou he
r dualf i
esi
unctonal ca t ass s ent Gi uded ot r lm ia i ...beyond a r ti i t
paciy es m
Encl
he i t tons
esrcton o
si pl r i and r ii t ks' snce t Law J
m e, outne,
epettve as ,' i he
udge di notadequa el expl n hi r dual
d
ty
ai s esi
4

fnfo a cp i dt= iain (olc g0h rc ssâo tl delt;Catrv. ry il
n c n l a at ee n to ) c l e te ae m bq l c) re Berhl.
e
.
No 81 -v0 1 7 , 0 8U.. s L S 1 5 7 , t* 4 ( S. J n 1 , 0 8 , e o t n
. :7c -9 2 7 2 1 S Di EM 1 4 4 a 2 D. C. u e 8 2 1 ) rp r a d
t
rc mme d to a o td 2 1 U. DitLEM S 1 4 3 O . C. ul 9 2 8 (e n igf r
e o n ain d pe . 0 8 S. s.
1 0 7 S. J y , 01 ) r ma dn o
f e pr c M l whe et La J e t al t e pl i how alml ln t Il e r utne,
he r o e ngs r he w udg ç ied o x an
f
l tto o smpl , o l

rp t ets sn tp ro H i af s pae p o u i n e vr n nih lig o l smpe
e exv a k o ef= n i t c d r d c o n io me t wovn ny i l
wo k-eaH l nc
r rl t no fons a de iins a r ltvey f w woz pl e c nge ' a t
nd cso nd ea l l e
k ac ha s nd o
I c so lit rc n wih c wor m a me m o t g de a pu i a r s esPli s
oc a ina n ea do t o- ke nd mbe f he e r l blc' dd e s ane
,

mode aed o c te i c nce to , pesse c , n p c > .
rt i ulis n o nH in ritn e a d a e, 3
)

Fo teer ao s t ec M f sn b sst atro a n tej d e tun e Rue
r h s e s n , h o md o a i o le r me d h u m n d r l

5 () Ac odn l teCo qin rsmo o wil ed ne .'h Clr i dr c t sn
9e. c r lgy,h mmlso e' i n l b e ld l e ek s ie td o e d
'
c pi oft sme a um o non a t a c mpa ngor rt alco e o r c d.
o es hi mor nd
pi i nd he c o nyi de o l uns l f e or

'N y f
mbe , 8.
DATED :w s zô da o Nove r 201

se orUnie jttsDiic J e
ni
td ae s t udg

3I sppo toft pen ngmotow tl Commisonere
n u r he di
i le
si
mpha ie t tot rditi c
sz s ha he srd oudsi t Fo
n he *
Ckcatha fund t t a La J
i ve o ha
w udge ad uaey a o e f a cm' ts d' clt wi sa ng on ts by
eq tl cc untd or l mnm ' l tly t tyi
m
h
ak
lml' t cmma t O o pr due on wok orwoA no pe r a ala s mbl lnepa e. De sM ot t
l nng he l' nt o n- o
f
r
t db med t l s e y-i c ' f'
'
o

M e o Ame dJ 9 Dk No 2 (u e gCrwd rv Be i'. . :7 c- : , 01 U. DitLEXT 1 3 8 .
r r n . , L . 7 qo
o e . > nlNo 21 -v 16 2 8 S. s
l
S 6 85
a * 7I D. .S p 2 , 01$.Whi teC I au o e g t t u hrsdœo sma besœce tu d rh
t 2 E. Va e t 4 2 8
l l OA c wld % v s c et n y u in n e te
ez
cknn nc ofapa uc n c s ,i i i awnbe tupo t La J get e an he r sdu lfmc nalc pa iy
ndn œ
r nlr a e t s nf
n
n he w ud o xpli r e i a l uo a ct
G dmgs Ilt m oa c w t c tv als co cz t tt La J e f ld t pr vi a ad uae
' . l he ' nf as he our
ik ne e ha he w udg ate o o de n eq t

ex ana ofho he r sduq fmc alc pa % a s sme tac omtd frt mod t lmia f a stp
pl ion
w r e i l l don a c s e s n c t e o he m e i tdons ound t e
'
t e oft Kq ntale l ionpr e s
bre he ue i vaua
oc s .

5