Harris v. Astrue

Filing 15

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/30/2011. (ssm)

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M EM O R AN D UM O PINIO N

MI
CHA EL J. STRUE,Com m i sone of
A
si r
Soc a Se ur t
i l c iy,

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Honor bl G l n E. la
a e e
Corr d
ChifUnie St t DititJ
e
t d aes src udge

D e e nt
f nda .

Pli ifhasfl t sa ton c lngi t fnaldecson oft Comm isone ofSoca
antf
ied hi c i hale ng he i
ii
he
si r
il
Se ui y de ng pl i ifsc a m f r ape i ofdi a lt a di a lt i tr nce be k sunde
ct t nyi
a ntf l i o
rod
s biiy nd s biiy nsla
net
r

t Soca Se trt Ac,a n nde 42 U. C.jj41 i a 423. Jziditon oft sc ti
he il cliy t s me d,
S.
6() nd
l s ci
r
hi our s
purua t j205( oft Ac , U. C. 405() Thi c r'rvi i lmiedt adeer nain
s nto
g) he t42 S. j g . s ou t e ew s i t o t mi to
s
ast w he hert r i s t nta e de e t s po tt Com m i s one ' c us on t tpl ntf
o
t he e s ubs a i l vi nc o up r he
s i rs oncl i ha ai i f

f ie t m e t her quie e sf e ilm e tt be isunde t Ac .l s s t nta e de e
a ld o e t e r m nt or ntte n o neft
r he t f uch ubsa i l vi nc
e s s t fna dec son oft Com m i sone m us be a fr e La sv. l br zz 368 F. 640
xit , he i l i i
he
s i r t f im d. w
Ce e e e,
2d

( h Ci.1 . Sttdbrel s tnta e de ehasbe n dei d a s hr lva e de e,
4t r 966) ae ify, ubsa il vi nc
e fne s uc ee nt vi nc
c i r ng t r or as a w hol as m i ht be f und ade t t s
onsde i he ec d
e,
g
o
qua e o uppor a c l i by a
t onc us on

ra o a l mi .Iih r s nv Peae , 0 U. 3 9 4 0( 9 )
e s n b e nd tc a d o . rls 4 2 S. 8 , 0 1 71.
Thepl ntf , oeR. ri, bo nonJ r r 1 1
ai if J
Ha rs was r
ama y , 952, ndeve ual compl td hi hi h
a
nt ly
ee s g
s hooleduc ton. M r Ha r sha w o ke a a c t c i l bor r H e l s w or d on a r gul r
c
ai
. r i s r d s ons nz ton a e .
at
ke
e a
bas s i 2004.On Dec m be 1 2006,pl i ift l d a a i ton f a pe i ofdi abiiy a
i n
e r 4,
a ntf i e n pplca i or
r od
s lt nd
di a lt i ur nc be ft .l tlng hi c a m , r H a rs a l d t the bec m e di a e f ra1
s biiy ns a e ne is n i i
s l i M . r i lege ha
n
s bl d o 1
f r sof ubs a i l i ul m pl ym en on M ar h 1 2005, t a t ii ; c andkne pr e s
om
s t nta ga nf e o
t
c ,
due o r hrts ba k
e obl m ;

hi b oodpr s e; nd l sofoneki ney.Pl i ifnow m ant i t theha r m aneddiabld
gh l
es ur a os
d
antf
i ans ha
se i
s e
t t pr s nt i e The r c d r ve st t r H a rsm e t i ur d s a usr quie e soft A c
o he e e tm .
e or e al ha M . r i t he ns e t t e r m nt he t

tr u h te frtq a tro 2 05 bu n tt ee fe . S e g n, 2 U. C.j 41 ()a d 4 ( )
h o g h is u re f 0 , t o h ra tr e e .4 S. j 6 i n 23a .
Cons que l pli ifi e ttedt ape i ofdia lt a dia lt i tr ncebe isonl i
e nty, a ntf s n il o
rod
s biiy nd s biiy nsla
neft y f
heha esa ihe t thebec me dia ed f alf msofs t nta ganf e oyme on o
s tbls d ha
n
s bl or l or
ubsa i l i ul mpl
nt
r

bef eMa c 31 2005.Seege ,42U. C.j423()
or r h ,
n.
S.
a.
M r H a r s c a m was de ed upon i ta c ns de a i n and r ons de a i
. ri ' l i
ni
nii l o i r to
ec i r ton. H e t n
he

rqueseda rceve ad novoheai a rviw befr a Admi sr i La J
e t nd e i d
rng nd e e
oe n
nitatve w udge.I a
nn
opi o daedFe a y 27,2009, heLa J e as dee mi d t tpl ntf wa notdia e a
ni n t
bnlr
t
w udg lo tr ne ha ai if s
s bl d t
a tmeprort t da eoft r i to ofi lr d sat .TheLa J
ny i
i o he t e m nai n nsze t us
w udgef
ound t tprort M a c
ha i o r h

31 2 05 plitf s fee as v r i ann n o teb sso d g n rtv o n d s a e Th La
, 0 , an if u frd e ee mp i e t n h a i f e e eaiej it ie s . e w
J
udgehe dt tM r Ha swasdia ed f rhi pa tr lva wor r e. Howe r t La J
l ha . ni
s bl o s s ee nt k ol
ve , he w udge
f
oundt tprort t dae ls i ur d, ai ifr t i s tcintf nc i lc ciyt pe f m
ha i o he t a t ns e pl ntf e aned ufi e u tona apa t o ror
lg wo k a tviynoti vi ci bi ofl e s r s s a f ds orsais a notr rng
i ht r c i t
nvol ng lm ng add r , ope , c fol , t r , nd
equii
ba a i soo ng, e i c ouc ng, rc a i onm o et n a oc asona ba i.Gi n s h
l ncng, t pi kne lng, r hi o r wlng
r ha n c i l ss ve uc
a r i lf nc i lc pa iy,a a tr c i rng pl ntf s a e
esdua u tona a ct nd fe onsde i
ai if ge, ducai a pror wor
ton, nd i
k
e r e e,a w e la t s i ony f om a voca i le r,t La J
xpe i nc s l s e tm
r
tona xpe t he w udge de e m i d t tpl ntf
t r ne ha ai if
r t ne s t i ntf nc i lc pa iy t pe f
e ai d ufk e u tona a c t o r onn s ve a lghtw o k r e exi tng i s gnii a
e rl i
r ol s s i n i f c nt

numbe i t nai na e onomy a al tm eso a be or M ar h 31 2005.Ac di y, heLaw
r n he to l c
t 1i
n nd f e
c ,
cor ngl t
J
udgeuli a ey c l dt tM r Ha rswa notdia e a t thei note ild t ape i
tm t l onc ude ha . ri s
s bld, nd ha
s
ntte o
rod

ofdia lt a dia lt i trncebe ft.Se 20 C. R.j 404.520( . The La J
s biiy nd s biiy nsla
neis e
F.
1 g)
w udge'
s
o ni was a ed a t f na de s on of t Com m i s one by t Soc a Sec iy
pi on
dopt
s he i l ci i
he
si r
he
il
urt

Admi sr ton' Appe sCouncl Ha ng e used a la ia e a i sr tve r medis M r
nita i s
al
i. vi xha t 1 val bl dm nita i e
e, .
H a r shasnow a al d t t sc t
ri
ppe e o hi our .

W hie pli if m a be dia e f ce t n f ms of empl
l a ntf
y
s bld or rai or
oymen ,t cnz i f t
t he cal acual
d e mi toni wheherpli tf wa d s bldf a 1 or sofs t tal i ' e oyme .See
etr na i s t
a n if s ia e or l f m
ubsan i ganf mpl
ul
nt

42U. C.j423( ( .Theea ef z ee nt ofpr whihmus bec i r di ma ngs h
S.
d)2) r r olr lme s oof c
t onsde e n ki uc

a a ay i.Theeee nsaesl zz da f lo :( )o j cieme ia f csa d ciia
n n lss
s lme t r l
mmaie s o lws 1 b e tv dc l a t n lnc l

fndn s ( )h o no sa dc n l so s fr ai p y iin ;3 s b e tv e ie c o p y ia
ig ;2 te piin n o cu in o te t h sca s ( ) u j cie vd n e f h sc l
ng
ma ie tto so i ime t, sd srb dt r u hacama t tsi n a d()t cama t
nf sai n f mpar ns a e cie h o g li n' e tmo y; n 4 he li n'
s
s
educ ton, to hit y,e i ls ls a a .Vie v. nc 438F. 11 11 60( h
ai vocainal sor rsdua kil, nd ge tk Fi h,
2d 57, 59- 4t
Ci.1 ) Undewo v. biof,298F. 8 851(t Ci.1 .
r 971;
r od Ri c f
2d 50, 4h r 962)
A f e a r vi w of t r or i t s c e,t c ti c tai d t c ude t t t
tr e e
he ec d n hi as he our s ons r ne o oncl
ha he
Com m i s one ' fnalde s on i s ppo t d by s f i le de . The m e c lr c d s r y
s i rs i
ci i s u r e
ubsnnta vi nce
di a e or tongl
s
upporst pr
t he oposton t tM r H a r si now di a ed f a 1 onnso s t nta ga nf la tviy.
ii ha . r i s
s bl or 1 f
f ubs a i l i u c i t
l or r e ye r , ai i f sunde g r pl ce e o bot kne s Hecontnuest s f fom
nm e ec nt a s pl ntf ha
r one e a m nt f h e .
i
o ufer r

d g n rtv at tsi mutp e onsa wel sg uyatrts h p re in, lv tdc lseo
e e eaie rl i n lil j it s la o t rh ii, y e tnso ee ae hoetr l
ui
and ti yc rde lve s a obest l a l te da e Nove be 23,2008,pli tf ' teai
rgl e i e l , nd
iy. n e tr t d
m r
a n ifs r tng
phys c a Dr Robe tB .M il r o ne t t M r Ha rs i t t ly di a e f a 1 f r s of w or
i i n, .
r
le , pi d ha
. r i s o a l s bl d or 1 o m
k
ac i t l d,i t s l te , r M il r f t ro ne t tpl i if s di a lt be n ase l a
tviy. ndee n hi e t r D . le urhe pi d ha a ntf
s biiy ga
ary s
J of20
une
04. The ditc t i t ca e how e r i t t Dr M il r sm e c r
fi uly n he s ,
ve , s ha . le ' di al epor s c pied
t om l
i m edi t l be or a i m e a e y a t rt t r i ton ofpl i if si tr d s a uso M a c 31
m
a e y f e nd m di t l f e he e m na i
a ntf nsle t t n r h ,
2005, e ry i ca et tM r H a s pr e shad no r a d a sgni i a l ve ofs ve iy a t t
cl a l ndi t ha . ni ' obl m
t e che i fc nt e l e r t t ha
eari tm e. W hie t e i obvi y a confi bet een Dr.M il s l er opi on and hi
ler i
l her s
ousl
lct w
ler' at
ni
s

c empor ne
ont
a ous ci c l not ,t c tbei ve t t t Admi sr tve La J
lnia
es he our le s ha he
nitai
w udge m i
ght
r as bl r y o t ea le r por si c nc udi t tpl i if s i paim e s ha notr a he a
e ona y el n he ri r e t n o l ng ha a ntf m r nt d
ec d

dia i l ve ofs rt a a tmeonorbe or M a c 31 2005.Thec t urhe fndst tt
s blng e l eve iy t ny i
f e rh ,
our f t r i ha he
Adm i sr tve La J
nita i
w udge pr pe l r le on med c la s s nt i de e ni exa ty wha
o ry e id
i a s es me s n t nni ng c l
t
f nc i nalr s r c i nsM r H a se r e ed asoft da e l ti ur d.The Law J
u to
e ti to
. ni xpe i nc
he t as ns e
udgeas t
ked he
voc tona e r t co i rt s m e f nc i
a i l xpe t o nsde he a
u tonalr t i to i a s s i pl i if sca iy f
esr c i ns n s e s ng a ntf
pac t or
ale na e w or a tviy. The c tbe i ve t tt La J e r a ona y r le on t voc tonal
tr t
k ci t
our le s ha he w udg e s bl e i d
he a i

expe tstsi onyi de e mi ngt tM r Ha rsr t i s fcen f tonal pa t t pe f m
r' e tm
n t r ni ha . ri eaned ufi i t unc i ca ciy o ror
s ve a s c fclgh r ol e si i sg tc nt be i hena i le onomya a1r e t
e r l pe ii i two kr es xitng n i nii a num r nt
tona c
t l elvan
tmeson a bef r M a ch 31 2005. I f l t t Commi soners fna de son de ng
i
nd o e r
,
t olows hat he
s i ' i l cii
nyi
be ft i s
neis s uppo td by s tnta e de e, nd t tt Com misone ' diposto i t sca e
re
ubsa il vi nc a ha he
s i rs s iin n hi s
m us bea fnne
t fi d.
On a a t t sco tpl i ifa guest tDr M ilrsl e opi on s dbebi ng on
ppe l o hi ur, antf r
ha . le ' atr ni houl
ndi
t Com m i sone , ve D r M il r ss a usa a t e tng physci n. Se 20 C .F. j4 4 1 2 (
he
s i r gi n . le ' t t s ' a i
r
ia l e
R. 0 .5 7 *.
O nc aga n,how e r t c tm us a e w ih t A dm i sr tve La J
e i
ve , he our
t gr e t he
ni t a i
w udge t t Dr M il r s
ha . le '
clni a not co pie i 2004 a 2005 s m pl do nots
i c l es m l d n
nd
i y
uppor t noton t t M r H a r s w a
t he i ha
. ri s

dia e durng t te rirpe i i tm e Fo e mpl ,o Se e r13,
s bl d i ha a le rod n i . r xa e n pt mbe
2004, .M il rlsed
Dr le it
pl i ifsdi gnos sa f l :
antf
a
e s olows

1Thecourt ecogniest t ei s equesi i t r d ast whe herDr M il det mi
r
z hat her s om
ton n he ecor
o
t
.
ler er ned
t tpl ntf be e di bl i J of2004 r hert n J of2005. However t cour hasaccept
ha ai if cam sa ed n une
at ha une
, he
t
ed
Dr. il sexpl ton t hi orgi opi on wasi eror andt theal
M ler'
ana i hat s i nal ni
n r ,
ha
waysi e
nt ndedt daepl ntf '
o t ai ifs
diabiiy back t J of2004.
s lt
o une

4

Pr t tts i pr d
osa ii , m ove

2) Hype tnsonunde te t nt
re i
r rame
3) Hit yofelvae urcacd
sor
e td i i
4) Chr cac r a e
oni ne os c a
5) Chr cobest
oni
iy
6) Soltr rg ki y. nalfnci bor ri i t l tt yeasanda
iay iht dne Re u ton delne n he as wo r
s
no ed on 24 hrurne he doe have s m epr e n
t
i
s
o
ot i

7 Heha hadee tdurca i i t pas, e tdc eseolti yc rde
)
s
lvae i cd n he telvae hol tr ,rgl ei s
8 Heha hadpr vi a nde t a pr vi gm s wot Aganas
)
s
e ous ppe comy nd e ous t hot md. i
not d,he ha t s ia y r g ki y.Hi l f ki y a r n l w a
e
s he olt r i ht dne
s e t dne ppa e ty s
s gi ly r ove ye r a H e i nots e ofa lt d t is ofa 1oft t
ur ca l em d a s go. s
ur
1 he e a l
1 ha .

( 203) No oft eco tonsc dbee pe tdt s rousyafc pli ifsc ct f
TR
. ne hes ndii oul
x ce o ei l fe t antf apa iy or
wor I e ast M r Ha rs mus ul ke ea c to Dr M ilrobs r d on t ts me da
k. nde d, o . ri ' c os lt l ondii n, . le
e ve
ha a
y
t tw hie pl ntf e r e e s e c oni ba k,hi a kne pa n, he e w ast ac e
ha
l ai i f xpe i nc d om hr c c p, nd e i t r
t
no ut

i lmmai ofa hi a t spoi . ( 203)
nfn ton nyt ng thi nt' TR
'
.
O n Aprl20,
i
2005, r Ha i pr e e f r a u t on m e ca i and r gul ry
M . n's es nt d o n pda e
di ton
e al

sheduldbl d wor Dr Milrnotdt tpli ifwa Ed ngr ai l we1. ( 201.On
c
e oo
k. . le e ha antf s toi eltvey l' TR )
'
t tda pl i ifde e a i esi lorurna y ta tpr e s a he de ed ç ny s c t
ha y, antf ni d ny nt tna
i r r c oblm , nd
ni ç pe ik
a

mus os ltlpansot rt ns meoc aso ba ka kneepan. ( 201 .Dr M ilr
cul keea i he ha o
c inal c nd
i ' TR ) . le
'
obs r edt twhiet r wa s
e v ha
l he e s ome c o cba k, p,a kne pa n, he ewe e no i cu e
hr ni c hi nd e i t r r
ç t
a

tae p o a yj it n rc n g u fae ps' ( 2 ) Th c u t eiv st the
l ru s f n on , o e e t o t lru . TR 01. e o r b le e ha t
'
Ad nsrtv La J d era o a l rle o s c tn ig i c n ldn ta j an ifs
mi itaie w u g e s n by eid n u h i dn s n o cu ig h t litf
m us ul kel t lpr e s ha notr ac d a di ab i l velofs ve iy asofM a c 31 2005.
c os e a obl m
d
e he
s lng e
e rt
rh ,
Fi l t co tno est tDr M il r s l t r o ni a t pl i if s d s biiy r le on
naly, he ur t ha . le ' a e pi on s o a ntf i a lt e i d
de opm e t w hi h oc ur ed s ve alye r a t rt r i ton ofi tr d s a us A snot a
vel
ns c c r e r
a s fe e m na i
nsle t t .
ed bove,

M r Harsh sn w u d r o erp a e n o b t k e j it.Ho ve,h s szg re ddn t
. ri a o n eg n e lc me t f oh n e on s we r te e t eis i o
r

tkeplc untl2007a 2008.( 277) t r r ,a codi t Dr Milr Mr Hars
a ae i
nd
TR
.Furhemo e c r ng o . le, . ri

utmaey so p dwo kn wh nh s o wa ei n td ( 3 7 .On ea an wh l t ec u t
li tl tp e r ig e i j b s l ae . TR 7 ) c g i, ie h o r
mi
be ivest tDr M ilr sr por ce ry e t bls t tM r Ha rsi c r nty dia e t c t
le ha . le ' e t la l sa ihes ha . ri s ure l s bl d, he our
r mai c nce t tt r or smpl doe no s
e ns onvi d ha he ec d i y s t uppor t esa ihme ofadia lt o e
t he tbls nt
s biiy ns t
da e a a y tm e pr ort t da e l s i ur d.I f l st tt Com m i s one ' fna de i i
t tn i
i o he t a t ns e t olow ha he
s i r s i l c s on
de ng be i s m us be afi m e
nyi
nett
t
fr d.

I af mi t Comm iso r sfnalde ii n, hec td snots ges t tM r Ha rs
n fr ng he
s i ne ' i
c so t our oe
ug t ha . ri
w asf ee ofpa n, s om f t a sif s i hi ba k a kne durng t ea le pe i oftm e.
r
i di c or, nd t fnes n s c nd es i he ri r rod i
I
ndee t r or i ca e t the w ase r e i s h pr bl m s asw e la dif c te
d, he ec d ndi t s ha
xpe i nc ng uc o e ,
l s f i uli s
as oc a ed wih t l sofone ki ne a el va e lpi l vel .H ow e r t c t us a n
s it
t he os
d y nd e t d i d e s
ve , he our m t gai

no et tt m e c lr porsc
t ha he di a e t ompie i 2004 a 2005 sr ngl s s t thi difc teshad
ld n
nd
to y ugge t ha s fi uli

n t o rse t ad sb iglv l fs v rt W hl Mr Harss fee d fnt s b e tv
o pr g e s d o ia ln e e o e ei
y. ie . ri u frd ei ie u j cie
m a f t tonsdurng t e r i rpe i i m us be r c ni ed t tt i biiy t do w or
nies a i
i he a le r od, t t e og z ha he na lt o
k

wihou a s h dic f tdoe notofis l r nde a ca ma t aly dia e Cr i v.Chae ,
t t ny uc s om or s
t e f e r li nt ot l s bl d. a g
tr

76F. 585,594- (t Ci.1 .Oncea i i a a st t c tha t Admi srtve
3d
95 4h r 996)
gan,t ppe r o he our t t he
nitai

La J d ec nsd rdal ftes be t efco sra o a l s p o tdb t eme ia r c r i
w u g o iee l o h u j ci a tr e s n by u p re y h dc l e o d n
v
q e to igt v c to a e p r a di a j diai gplitf scam f rb n f s I f lo
u sinn he o ain l x e t n n du c tn an if li o e ei . t olws
t
t ta1 f e soft Com m i sone ' fnalde i i n a e s
ha 1 ac t
he
si rs i
c s o r uppor e by s t nta e de e.
td
ubs a i l vi nc
A s a ge r lr l ,r s uto ofc lc s i t e de i a m a t rw ihi t pr nce of
ne a u e e ol i n
onfi t n he vi nce s
te t n he ovi

t Commi so e n i t c t g r s vet c lc sd fe e l Ii ha ds v. r l s
he
s i ner ve f he our mi ht e ol he onfit if r nty. tc r on Pe a e ,

s a; nhem v. nc 495F. 396(t Ci.1 4) Fo t r s nssaed,hec tfndst
upr Oppe i Fi h,
2d
4h r 97 . r he ea o tt t our i he
Com m i s one ' r ol i oft pe tne c l c s i t r or i t s c s t be s ppore by
s i rs es uton he ri nt onti t n he ec d n hi a e o
u
td

s t ntale de .Acc di y,hefna de ii n oft Commi so rmus bea ûr e La
ubsa i vi nce
or ngl t i l c so
he
s i ne
t f m d. ws

v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o rae u g n a do d rwil ee trdt i d y.
Cee rz e s p a
p rp it j d me t n r e lb n ee h s a
The c e k i di e t d t s nd c r ii d co e oft s o ni t a lcouns ofr cor
l r s r c e o e e tfe pi s hi pi on o l
el e d.
DA TED : Thi 30 hda ofJ , 2011.
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