Rhodes v. Astrue

Filing 19

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 9/12/2013. (lab)

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CLERK' OFFI u.& DI COURT S CE ST. AT ROM OKES VA FI LED I THE UN I N TED STA TES D I STRI CO U RT CT FO R THE W ESTERN D I STRI O F V I GI A CT R NI R OAN O KE D I SI VI ON SEF 12 2 1 23 ' K L . D 1 k ' ' E K PM STON L.R HO DES, Ci lAc i N o. 7: 2CV 00579 vi ton 1 Pl ntf , ai i f M EM OR ANDUM OPI ON NI CAROLYN W . COLVI Ac i N, tng Com m i s one of Soc a Se urt si r i l c iy, By: H on. l n E.Conr d Ge a ChifUnie St t sDititJ e e t d a e src udg D e e nt f nda . Pl i tf has fl d t s a ton c l ngi t tna de i i oft Com m i s one of Soc a a n if ie hi c i hale ng he i l c son he si r il Se urt de ngpl n ifsc ai f rs em e a s c iy i om ebe tt unde t Soc al c ziy c iy nyi ai tf l m o uppl nt l e urt nc ne i s r he i Se lrt Ac,asa nded,42 U. C.j 1 g sg J iditon oft sco ti purua t 4 U. C.j t me S. 381 1 e urs ci hi ur s s nt o 2 S. .. 1 3()3)whihi or ae j205()ofheSoca Se urt t42U. C. 405( .Thi c t 38 c( , c nc ports g t il c iyAc, S. j g) s our' s r vi w i lm ied t a de e m i ton as t whe he t r i s t nta e de e t s e e si t o t r na i o t r he e s ubs a i l vi nc o uppor t t he Com m i s one ' c l i t t a ntf f ie t m e tt condii nsf e il m e es a i hed b s i rs onc us on ha pl i if a l d o e he to or ntte nt t bls y a purua t t Ac .I s hs t nta e de e ss t fnal cii oft Comm isone nd s nt o he t f uc ubsa i l vi nce xit ,he i de son he si r mus beafr t fimed.La v.Cee e ze 368F. 640( h Ci.1 ) Sttd brety,s tnta ws lbrz , 2d 4t r 966 . ae i l ubsa il e denc ha be n de i a s h r e nte de e co i rng t r co d asa whol a m i be vi e s e fned s uc el va vi nc , nsde i he e r e, s ght f ound a ua et s deq t o uppor a c l i by a r as bl m i Ri ha ds v. r es 40 U . 38 t onc us on e ona e nd. c r on Pe al , 2 S. 9, 401( 971. 1 ) Thepl i i f Pr t n L. a ntf , es o Rhode , a bor on J nua y 1,1 a e nt ly c pl t d hi sw s n a r 990 nd ve ua l om e e s hi s hoole a i l W hie M r lh d sh sh l pattmej bst eAd nsrtv La J d e gh c duc ton. l . t o e a ed r-i o ,h mi itaie w u g fund t tpli ifha neve e ge i s tntalg i ulaci t ( 11. l se t tM r o ha antf s r nga d n ubsa i anf tviy. TR ) t e ms ha . l hode r c i d c l s SSlbe ft ba ed on a di nos sofm e a r t r t o wih a s onda y t s e e ve hid' ne is s ag i nt l e a da i n t ec r 1Pli ift tfe t ther ei als cile di o a.' ( 4 ) antf esiid ha ec ved tpe a d plm ' TR 6 . ERK oft lsi t rAppe x 1t Sub r P oft Adm i sr tveRe a i Pa t he itngs mde ndi o pa t he nita i gultons r 404.TheLa w J udge as e s pl i if s r s dua f nc i s s ed a ntf ' e i l u tonalc pac t a f l w s a iy s olo : A fe c r f lc i r ton oft e ie r c d, he unde s gne sndst tsnceM a t r a e u ons de a i he ntr e or t ri d ha i y 1, 2009, he c a m a thasha t r s dua f nc i lc pac t t pe f m s n a y t li n d he e i l u tona a iy o r or ede t r wor as dei d i 20 CFR 416.67a a f l :lf and car 1 pounds k fne n 9 () s olows it ry 0 occ s onaly a 5 poundsf eq nty; i f a t a of6 hour a s a a orwal a i l nd r ue l st or ot l s nd t nd nd/ k f at a of2 ho lsi a 8 ho wor y wih t opton t oc aso ly a ie i or ot l tr n n ur kda t he i o c i na l rs n p a et asa d n p sto f r re peid o tmea d( o e e t n ln c n tn lc o tn i g o iin o b if ro s fi n n n x ri a) o o sa t o fnge i orf elng. The cl i a ' m ode a e lm ia i i s a f toni a i r ng e i a m nts r t i t ton n oci l unc i ng nd co e r ton f t r lm i t cl i a t t pe f r a e of s t s m pl nc nta i urhe i t he a m nt o he r o m nc hor, i e i t u tonsw ih o y oc s ona i e a ton w ih ot s nsr c i t nl ca i l nt r c i t her . ( 1 .Gi ns harsdua f to c pa iy, nda trc i rngplitf sage e ton, TR 8) ve uc e i l uncinal a ct a fe onsdei anif , ducai a prorwor e ince a wel ast si on fom avoc tona e r, heLa J nd i k xpere , s l e tm y r a i l xpe tt w udger e t t uld ha M r Rhode haspos es e s t i ntf tonal a ct t pe f s ve al pe t s de a ywo k . s s s d ufk e unc i c pa iy o ronn e r s cik e nt r r r esa al r e n tm essnc M a 1 2009.A cc r ngl t La J ol t l el va t i i e y , o di y, he w udgeuli a e y c ude t t tm t l oncl d ha pl i if sdi a lt e d on M a 1 2009 a t the i no l re il d t s e e a s c iy a ntf s biiy nde y , nd ha s onge ntte o uppl m nt l e urt i mebe lt. Se 20 C. R.jj 41 987/)a 41 920() TheLa J nco ne s e F. 6. nd 6. g . w udge' opi on wa s ni s a dopt d ast fnal ci i oft Com m i sone b t Soc a Se urt A dm i s r ton' A ppe s e he i de s on he s i r y he i l c iy nit a i s al Counc lHa nge use ala lbl a nitai r m e es M r Rhodesha no a i. vi xha t d 1 vaia e dmi sr tve e di , . s w ppeaedt l o t sc t hi our . W hie pl i i f m a be di a e f c rai f l a ntf y s bl d or e t n onns of em pl e , t c uc a f c ua oym nt he r i l a t l dee nai i whehe pl i ifwa d s bldf a l o msofs t nta ganf e oy e .Se t nni ton s t r antf s ia e or l f r ubsa il i ul mpl m nt e 42U. C.j1 () The em'f uree nt ofpr whihmus bec i r di ma ngs h S. 382ca . r e o lme s oof c t onsdee n ki ue a a ay i. Th s ee n sa esl rz da f lo :( )o j ci eme ia fcsa d ci c l n n lss e e lme t r z mmaie s o lws 1 b e tv dc l a t n l a ni fndi ;2)t opi onsa c uso ofteai physcans ( s j ci e de ofphysc l i ngs ( he ni nd oncl ins r tng ii '3) ub e tve vi nce , ia ma f ttonsofi ime s asdes i dt oughacai ntst tmony'a ( t cl ma ' niesai mpar nt, crbe hr l ma ' esi , nd 4) he ai nts Axi I sV Axi V s Cu r ntGAF = 62. re M r Rhode s d be co i r d c pa e ofm a ng hi ow n fna i lde i i i . s houl nsde e a bl ki s i nc a c s ons n hi ow n be ti e e t s s nt r s . l r ga dst em pl e ,M r Rhode w oul be a e t w o k a 8 hourda a 40 n e r o oym nt . s d bl o r n y nd hourwe k. Ofpa tc arc e n i hi neglc ofhi di be i c ton whi e riul onc r s s et s a tc ondii ch r s t d i hi t r na i hi t e m o h e o e w ih a W alM ar f a hi e e ule n s e mi tng s hr e nt mpl ym nt t - t r nc s . I t cli a woul bem or dii nti r ga dst c ki hi bl odgl os l ve , f he am nt d e lge n e r o hec ng s o uc e e l w o d m ana hi di be esm o e s ce s uly. e w oul lke y be a c i t a ul ge s a t r uc s f l H di l ons sent nd r la e e pl e. om aps hol c ls a e i bl m oye Fr yc ogi a t ndpoi , he e i not ng pr ve i t s nt t r s hi e ntng hi i vi lfom be ng a tvey e oye Hec d pe f r smpl a r peii ndi dua r i ci l mpl d. oul ro m i e nd e ttve t ks wihout di fc t H e w oul be a e t w o k w ih t publc pe r ,a as t fi uly. d bl o r t he i , e s nd s r ior a o it l a woul no r quie s c ai e s r ii upe v s s ppr pra ey nd d t e r pe i lz d upe v son. ( 46566) TR - . Pl i if s di be es pr s nt a s e ha cl e que to The A dm i s r tve La J a ntf a t e e s om w t os r s i n. nit a i w udge uli a e y de e m i d t tt m a f s a i ofM r lhode 'di be e a enots s ver ast pr nt tm t l t r ne ha he nie t tons .k s a ts r o e e o eve r gul rw or a tviy. The Law J e a k ci t udge r i o t m e c r c d i c udi t tt r i no eled n he di al e or n oncl ng ha he e s e de e ofany e o ga da e. The La J vi nc nd r n mag w udge de lne t f l c edi c ti pori of c i d o uly r t era n tons pl ntf st tm o i whih pl i ifr t t the i t bl t wo k o a s t ne bass ai if esi ny, n c antf epored ha s ma e o r n usai d i be a eofdi tcs m pt m s i l ng f i ue, zz nes , nd s e pi s .l a ng t sc e biiy c us abe i y o ,nc udi atg di i s a l e ne s nm ki hi r di lt de e m i ton, he La J t r na i t w udge r i d on anu be off c or , ncl ng pl ntf sf l e t c pl ele m r a t s i udi ai i f aiur o om y wih team e r omm e tons aswela hi s i la r r a i la tvii . TheLa J t r t nt ec nda i , l s s oc a nd ec e tona c i tes w udge c me e a f l s om nt d s olow : Ther co dsal o s t cl i a hast ldi e es how e r t r i no evi nce e r s how he a m nt ype ab t ; ve , he e s de ofa end or n da a t da ea t cl i a i ofe no om pla w ih hi di t ny ga m ge o t nd he a m nt s t n nc i nt t s e and m edi a i . The r or s c tons ec ds how t c a m a f is t ke p bl s r l as he l i nt a l o e ood uga ogs diect and hecontnuedt drnk al r ed i o i coholuntlAugustof2011byhi t tm ony. i s es i The cli nttsiidt the l thi j b a Che r r turntbec us ofpr ems ama etfe ha os s o t ddas esa a a e obl r a ed t di be es howe r t c a m a ' pr e s s c el t o a t ; ve , he l i nts obl m e onda y t di be e w il r o a ts l di i s w ih com plance w ih m edi i and di . m ni h t i t catons et Ther c dss t cli nti teae f ra ey a orde e so butheha not e or how he a ma s r t d o nxit nd/ pr s i n s r quiedps hi t i e i nta o n te c r I a to t c a m a pa tc pa e e r yc a rcr sde i l ri pa i nt a e. n ddii n, he l i nt r i i t s i awi r ngeofa tvii sofdaiy lvi a deaieda n de a ci te l i ng s t l bove, sagilre aswel ha rfind l a ot rfi nds a pl yst a s t . na l r c dsofH a lCom m uniy Ser c s he r e nd a e m pors Fi ly, e or l t vi es i c t t cl i a i nota w a tut ul ndi a e he a m nt s l ys r hf . ( 1 20) TR 9- . Thec t le t tt r i e de t s our be ives ha he e s vi nce o uppor t La J the w udge' r s utonoft is s e ol i he s ues c nc m i pl i if s di et an hi c e biiy. Ha ng r e e t m e c r c d,t c t o e ng a ntf ' ab es d s r di lt vi evi w d he di al e or he our a r es t tt r i no e d nc of e o ga d m a a s ci t d wih pl ntf s t I di be es g e ha he e s vi e e nd r n n ge s o a e t ai i f ype a t . Furhe m or , whie pl ntf s t e t e t hit r r l c s m a pe and vale i hi di be i t r e l ai i f r a m n s o y efe t ny aks l ys n s a tc m a nt na ,t f tt tpl i tf s di be eshasbee s a lze f pe i oftm e s i e nce he ac ha a n if a t n t bii d or r ods i uppors t t he La u g ' d tr n to h th c n iini s be tora o a l c nr l W hi t ec u t g e s wl d es eemiainta t e o dto s u jc t e s n be o to . l h o r a re e t t he La l ha t w udge' a s s e of ai i f sc e biiyi s e ha abbr vi e t c t i ve s s es m nt pl ntf r di lt s om w t e at d, he our bele s t tt r i e denc t s ha he e s vi e o uppor t noton t tM r Rho e gesi a w i r nge ofphys c t he i ha . des nga n de a i al ac i te , piehi di be es a t the s e i e f ist f l w hi doc or sr om m e tons tvii s des t s a t , nd ha om tm s a l o olo s t ' ec nda i ast pr rdibe i mai e nc l s qt c tfndss t i e denc t s ppor t La o ope a tc ntna e. n hor he our i ubsantal vi e o u t he w J udge' r s uton oft f c ua co lc s i t sca e. I f l w st tt tna d ii oft s e ol i he a t l nfit n hi s t olo ha he i l ec son he Com m i s one m us be a fr e si r t f im d. On a al t t s c t pl i if t s i s w ih t La J ppe o hi our , a ntf ake s ue t he w udge' a s s m e of t s s e s nt he c edi lt i s .Pl i if f r t a g t ,i fndi t t he ha f ie t f l pr c i r biiy s ues a ntf i s r ues hat n i ng ha s a l d o olow es rbed teamen f hi di be e ,t La J r t t or s a t s he w udgedi no ad et t pr t ole tbls d t rSoc a d t her o he o oc sa ihe mde il Sec iyRulng82- ( 78 .Thec t grest t La J di notu raket deald urt i 59 PPS ) our a e hathe w udge d nde t he tie e l t o r uie unde Soc alSe iy Rulng 8 59. H oweve ,t s r i a i t c ai s va ua i n eq r d r i curt i 2r hi ulng pples o l m a j iain u d r 0C. R. 41 .3 , ihp o ie ta cama t wihd sb igi ar n s dudc to s n e 2 F. j 69 0 wh c r vd sh t li ns t ia ln mp ime t ma bedenidbe isit yf lt f l pr ci dte t ntunl st r i aj tfa ec us y e neft f he ai o olow esrbe rame , es hee s usiibl a e f t f iur t do s The Admi sr i La J or he al e o o. nitatve w udge di not de M r Rhode cai f d ny . s' l m or c i ngbe isba e ont pr sonsof20C. R. 41 93 l tad,heLawl e age ontnui neft s d he ovii F. j 6. 0. nse t udge ng d i t s que i ldi a lt ana ys sand uli a e y f und t tpl i t f d s no expe i nc t aly n he e nta s biiy l i tm t l o ha a n if oe t r e e ot l di a i i pa r e s Thus t c tc l es t t t La J s blng m im nt . , he our onc ud ha he w udge' f l e t e ge i t s aiur o nga n he ana ys s r quied underSoci lSe urt Rulng 8 59 i ofno cons ue e. l i e r a c iy i 2- s eq nc Pl i ifs s cond a gume r ga di t La J antf e r nt e r ng he w udge' c e biiy as e s e i mor s r di lt s s m nt s e co pe lng.Cii Soca Se urt Rulng96- whihdeaswiht e l ton ofs m li tng il c iy i 7p, c l t he vauai ympt sa om nd t a s s ntofc e biiy, r Ihode m ant i t t heLa J he s es me r di lt M .t s i ans ha t w udgem is dt poi i as i ng s e he nt n sgni f iur t f l pr s rbed t e t e asa r s n f di c edii pl i if st s i ony. Pl i if s a l e o olow e c i r a m nt ea o or s r tng a ntf ' e tm a ntf ' a gum enti t t bec us ofhi i t le t lde i i nc es he l c t c r s ha , a e s n e l c ua fc e i , a ks he once t a i unde s a ng, n r ton, r t ndi a m e or ne e s r t f l t ough w ih al ofhi doc or 'r c m e tonsf t e t e . nd m y c s a y o olow hr t l s t s e om nda i or r a m nt The c tag ee t tt Admi sr tveLa J our r s ha he nita i w udgedi notc i rt si s a t t te e , d onsde hi s ue nd, o ha xt nt t c tbe ivest tt r c d doe no s he our le ha he e or s t uppor t La J t he w udge' fndi off lle t f l s i ng aitr o olow pr s rbed tea m e a ar a o f rdi c edii M r Rhodes t s i ony.H o e , no e a e c i r t nt s e s n o s r tng . ' e tm w ver as t d bove , t La J he w udgec t d ava i t ofot r um e a e r a o f xc l ng t tM r Rhode 't s i o ie rey he , l t d e s ns o onc udi ha . s e tm ny i no f l cr di e s t uly e bl . Att he rng,M r Rhode t s is t t e f c t the i una e t e he a i . s e tted o he f e t ha s bl o ngage i s t i d n us a ne wor aci t be a eofvai smpt o hi dibee .( 4 45 .Ne rhee s asnoe by k tviy c us rous y oms f s a ts TR 3- ) ve t ls , td t La J ,t rco di c t t tpli ifgo t c c ( 270) plysta s t ( he w udge he e r ndiaes ha antf es o hurh TR , a e m pors TR 270,58 ,hasagilre ( 740) rde abi cl ( 623,71 ,r nsande css( 58 , 4) rfind TR , i s cy e TR 2) u xerie TR 4) lve i pe nl a doeslundr ( 270)andus sac i s nde nde ty nd a y TR , e omputr( 27 .Sttds ci ty, e TR 2) ae uc ncl w hiet e de e o t i s ofpl i if sl vel a tviy a m edi al om pla e i i confi t l he vi nc n he s ues a ntf e of c i t nd c c i nc s n lc , t c tbeleve t t t r or s he our i s ha he ec d uppors t Law J t he udge' fndi t pl ntf ' t tm ony s i ng hat ai if s esi r ga di hi wor r l t ca c t i notf l c e bl l ed,t c tbele t t La e r ng s k-e aed pa iy s uly r di e. nde he our ives hat he w J udgega M r Rhode t be i oft doub i fndi ar sdualf tona ca ciy f ro y a ve . s he neft he t n i ng e i unci l pa t o nl lm ie r nge ofs de a y wor a tviy.Thus r r e sofw he he M r Rhode f l sa 1 hi i td a e nt r k ci t , ega dl s t r . s olow 1 of s doc or 'te t ntor r ,pl i ifsacua lvelofac i t beleshi t tm ony ast hi l lof t s r a me de s antf t le tviy i s esi o s eve i pa iy. nca c t Is n umm a y,hec t r t our sndss t ta e de ei s ppor oft La J ubsan il vi nc n u t he w udge' r ol i of s es uton t m edi l i s i t s c s . W hie t c t doe not b i t t a l of t La J he ca s ues n hi a e l he our s eleve ha l he w udge' s c e biiyfndi a es r di lt i ngs r upporedby s t nta e de e,hec t oncude t tt r i e de e t ubsa il vi nc t our c l s ha he e s vi nc upon whih t La J c he w udgem i tr as bl fnd t tpl i ifst si on r ga di hi c pact gh e ona y i ha antf e tm y e r ng s a iy f wor i no f ly c e bl .Fi l t c t ive t t heLa J or k s t ' l r di e naly,he our bele s ha t u w udger a ona yr i dont e s bl ele he t tm ony ofa voc tona e r i c l ng t tM r Rhodes i c pa e ofpe f m i s ve a es i a i l xpe t n onc udi ha . s a bl r or ng e r l s c tc s de a y wor r e e si i sgnii ntnu be i t na i ec pe ii e ntr k ol s xitng n i fca m r n he tonal onomy. Gi n t ve he fndi ofs t nta e de i s i ng ubs a i l vi nce n uppor oft La J t he w udge' r s uton ofa loft c ii l ont i t s e ol i l he rtca c l c s i t r c d,tf l t tt tnalde ii n oft Commi so rm us beafi med. n he e or i olows ha he i c so he s i ne t tr l a f r i t Com m i s one ' fna de s on, he c r doe nots n f im ng he s i r s i l ci i t ou t s ugges t tM r Rhodes t ha . i f ee of a lw or r l t d difc tes H e e re esdefnie i elec ua lm ia i .M or ove , sr 1 k- e a e f i uli . xpe i nc i t nt l t l i t tons e r pl ntf s di be e c n be e ct d t r s l i a vai t ofw oni om e a t oublng s m pt m s ai if a t s a xpe e o e u t n le y s nd r i y o . Ho weve ,im us a i beno e t tt m os r ce ps hol ca e ua i r uledi afndi r t t gan t d ha he t e nt yc ogi l val ton es t n i ng of r dualfunctonalcapaciy f r ar wor actviy. M or esi i t or egul k it eover M r.Rhodes'act l , ual evelof 8 fmc i nga s s t toni lo upporst no i t thei c pa eofs m ef m sofwor l m us ber c ze t he ton ha s a bl o or k. t t e ogni d t a t eia l yt d wo kwi u a ys b e t ds o o t o sn t fis l rn e acama t h t h n bit o o r t t n u j ci ic mf r d e o o tef e d r li n i ho ve ttlydia ed.Cri v. tr 7 F. 58 59 9 ( hCi.1 .Onc ag n,t ppe r t t oal sbl ag Chae, 6 3d 5, 4-5 4t r 996) e ai ia as o he c u tha t Ad nitai eLa J d eg vefi c n i eaint t es be tv f co s e s n by o r t the mi srtv w u g a ar o sd rto o h u j ci e a tr r ao a l s pore byt me c lrcodi adudiai pli ifscai f be ft.I ed, spr vi l up td he dia e r n j c tng antf l m or neis nde a e ousy not t c t le t tt La J ega M r lhode t be i oft doubti t sr r ed,he our be ives ha he w udg ve .t s he nett he n hi ega d. l f l st t 1f c t oft Com m is one ' fna de s on a e s t olow ha al a e s he s i r s i l ci i r uppo t d by s t nta e de e. re ubs a i l vi nc A sa ge r lr e, e ol ton o co lc si t e de e i a m a t rwihi t pr nc of ne a ul r s u i f nf i t n he vi nc s t e t n he ovi e t Comm isone e n i t c tmi r ol e t c lcsdif r nty. Ri r on v.Per l , he s i r ve f he our ght es v he onti t fe e l cha ds aes s a; nhem v. nc 495F. 396(t Ci.1 .Fort ras sae t co ti t upr Oppe i Fi h, 2d 4h r 974) he e ons ttd,he ur fnds he Com m i s o rs r s uton oft pe tne c l c s i t r or i t s c e t be s s i ne ' e ol i he ri nt ont i t n he ec d n hi as o uppo t d by re s tntal vi nce Ac or ngl t fna de ii n oft Comm isone mus bea fr e La ubsa i e de . c di y,he i l c so he s i r t fim d. ws v Cee r z e s pr.An a p o raej d me ta do d rwil ee trdt i d y . lb e z , u a p r p it u g n n r e lb n ee hs a . Thec e k i die t t s nd c rii d c e oft so ni t a 1cou e ofr co d. l r s r ced o e e tfe opi s hi pi on o 1 ns l e r ptmbe , 01 ENTER ti t C da ofSe e r 2 3. hs V X y WW i Chi Unie St t sDiti tJ ef t d a e src udge 9

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