Crump v. Social Security

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 3/3/2014. (lab)

CLERK' OFFI U. DI .
S
CE S. ST COURT
AT ROANOKE,
VA
FI
LED

I THE UNI
N
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FOR THE W ESTERN DI
STRI OF VI NI
CT
RGI A
RO AN OK E D I I ON
V SI

MA2 23 2 1
01
JUL

. DL
EY
CL K

J N ET M .CRU M P,
A

Ci lA c i N o. 7: 3CV 00007
vi ton
1
Pl i if
a ntf ,

M EM ORANDUM OPI ON
NI
CAR OLY N W .COLV I , c i
N A tng
Com mi sone ofSoc a Secliy,
si r
il t t
r

By:

Hon.Gln E.Conr d
e
a
Chi fU nied St t s Di t i tJ
e
t
a e sr c udge

Def nda .
e nt
Pl i ifhasf l d t s a t o cha l ngi t fna dec s on oft Com m i s one ofSoci l
a ntf
ie hi c i n le ng he i l i i
he
si r
a
Se trt de ngpl i ifscl i sf di a lt ns r nc be ksa s ppl m e al e urt i om e
c liy nyi
a ntf a m or s biiyi u a e net nd u e nt s c iy nc

be ft unde t SocilSe ziyAc,a ame d, U. C.jj41 i a 423,a 42U. C.j
neis r he a ctrt t s nde 42 S.
6() nd
nd
S.
1 # s u.r pe tvel J iditonofhi c tspurua t 42U. C. 405( a 42U. C.
381 1 e ,es ci y. urs ci
t s our i s nt o
S. j g) nd
S.
.

j 1 3( () Thi c t rviw i lmie t adee mi ton ast whehe t r i s tnta
38 c)3 . s our' e e s i td o tr nai
s
o t r he e s ubsa il
e de e t s
vi nc o uppor t Com m i s one ' c l i n t tpl i iff ie t e t bls e il m entt
t he
s i rs onc us o ha a ntf a l d o s a i h ntte
o
be ft unde t A c .l s h s t n i e de e e s s t fna de s on oft Com m i sone
ne is
r he t f uc ubs a tal vi nc xi t , he i l ci i
he
si r

mus beafime Lawsv.Cee e z 368F. 6 ( hCi.1 .Sttdbrel s tnta
t
fr d.
lbrz e,
2d 40 4t r 966) ae ity, ubsa il
e de hasbe n de i ass hr e nte de e c i rngt r c d a awhol , mi htbe
vi nce
e fned uc elva vi nc , onsde i he e or s
e as g
f und a ua e t s
o
deq t o uppor a c l i by ar s bl m i Ri ha ds v. r l s 402 U . 38
t onc us on
ea ona e nd. c r on Pe a e ,
S. 9,

401( 971.
1 )
The pl ntf , a tM . m p, asbo n on Se e be 30,1 and e nt ly co pl t d
ai i f J ne
Cnl w
r
pt m r
967
ve ua l m e e
he hi s hool uca i Pl i ifha w or d asa r t ls o e c e k, de pi ke i an a om otve
r gh c
ed ton. a ntf s ke
e ai t r l r or r c r n
ut
i
pa t o r ton,m ac ne o a or i t xtl ope a i ,a ho e pe . She l s w or d on a
rs pe a i
hi per t n e ie r tons nd us kee r
a t ke
r ar and s t ned bas s i 2008. On Febr y 25,2009,M s.Cr p fl applcatons f
egul
us ai
i n
uar
um ied
i i
or

dia lt i ur ncebe isa s plmentls curt i om ebe ft .Pli tf al ge t ts
s biiy ns a
nett nd up e
a e iy nc
ne is a n if le d ha he
be a e di a e f a lf
cm
s bl d or 1 onnsofs t nta gai ule pl ym e o A ugus 1 20 due t a t '
ubs a i l nf m o nt n
t 5, 08,
o ol
n

t ndon i he rghtf a hi bl pr s ur M s Cnl pno mait nst ts ha r mai d
e
n r i oot nd gh ood e s e. . m
w
n ai ha he s e ne
di a edt t pr e tm e A st he a i a i f rdi a lt i ur nc be f t , her co dr ve l
s bl o he es nt i . o r pplc ton o s biiy ns a e ne is t e r e a s
t t ai t f m e t i ur d s a usr qui e e sof heA c a a l el va tm esc r by t fnal
ha pl n if t he ns e t t e r m nt t
t t l r e nt i
ove ed he i

de ii oft Commisone .Se ce r l 42U. C.jj41 i a 423()
cson he
s i r e nealv,
S.
6() nd a .
M s Cr p' c ai sw e e de ed u i ta c i r i a r c i r ton. She t n
. um s l m
r ni pon nii l ons de aton nd e ons de a i
he

r uetda r c ve aA novohe rnga rviw beor a Admi srtveLa J e.I a
eq se nd e ei d
ai nd e e f e n
nitai w udg n n
opi on da ed J y 13, 1 t La J
ni
t ul
201 , he w udgeal o de e m i t pl i i fi notdi a e The La
s t r ned hat a ntf s
s bl d.
w
J
udge f
oundt tM s Cr m p e renc sa s ve e i pai nto t ba i ofr g f dys unc i
ha
. u
xpe i e e r m nne n he s s i ht oot f ton.
Be us oft s c ton,t La J
ca e hi ondii he w udge hel t tpl i i fi di a e f a1 ofherpa tr e nt
d ha a ntf s s bl d or 1
s el va

wor r es Howe r t La J
k ol .
ve , he w udge de e mi d t tM s Cr
t r ne ha
. ump r t i s t intf nc i l
e ans ufk e u tona
ca ct f alm iedrngeofs ntr wor a tvii .TheLa l
pa iy or i t a
ede a y k c i tes
w udgeases edpli ifsr i l
s s antf esdua
f tona c pac t asf l s
unc i l a iy olow :
A fe c r f c i r i of t e tr r c d, t unde s gne fnds t t t
t r a e ul ons de aton
he n ie e or he
ri d i
ha he
cl i a ha t r i ua f tona c pa t t pe f m s den a y w or a de i d
a m nt s he es d l unc i l a ciy o r or e t r
k s fne

i CFR 404.567()a 41 9674)exc ptorha whi equie sa nga or
n20
1 a nd 6. a e f t t chr rs tndi nd/
wal ng m or t n 30 m i esa atm e o c nnot do by a i vi alwho m us
ki
e ha
nut t i r a
be ne n ndi du
t
oc as ona l us a c ne t a s s w ih n bul ton.
c i ly e a o s i t t m a i

( 1 .Gi s har i f tona c pact a atrc i rngpli ifsag e to
TR 2) ven uc esdualunci l a iy, nd fe onsdei antf e, ducain,
a pas w or e
nd t k xpere e, w e la t tm ony fom avoca i
i nc as l s es i
r
tonale r , he La J
xpe t t
w udge de er i
t m ned
t t s Cnz pr t nss tci nt t c i lc pac t o pe f r s r ls cii s de a yw or ol s
ha M . m e ai ufi e fm tona a iyt r o m eve a pe fc e nt r
kr e
w hi exiti s g t a num be i t na i le onom y.A c or ng y, he La J
ch s n i nik nt
r n he tona c
c di l t
w udge uli a e y
tm t l
c l edt tM s Cnz p i no di a e a t ts i no e il d t bene i sunde e t r f de a
onc ud ha
. m s t s bl d, nd ha he s t ntte o
tt
r ihe e r l

p o rm.S eg n rly 20C. R. j4 4 1 2 ()a d41 .2 ( ) Th La J d eso no wa
r g a e e eal, F. j 0 .5 0 g n 69 0 g . e w u g ' piin s
a pt d a t fna de ii oft Co misone byt SocalSe iyAdmi sr ton' Appea s
do e s he i l c son he m s i r he i curt
nita i s
l
Counci. Ha nge
l vi xhause a1a ia ea i sr tver me e , s Cr m pha now a al t
t d 1 va lbl dm nita i e di s M . u
s
ppe ed o
t sc t
hi our

W hie pl ntf m a be dia e f c ra n f
l ai if y
s bl d or e ti onns of e o e ,t c uc a f cua
mpl ym nt he r i l a t l
de e mi ton i wheherpl i ifi diabld f ral f mso s t nta g nf le pl
t r nai s t
antf s s e o l or f ubsa il ai u m oyme .See
nt

42U. C.jj423( ( a 1 () Theeaef ee nt ofpr whihmus beco i rd
S.
d)2) nd 382ca . r r our lme s oof c
t nsdee

i ma igs c a a ay i.Th s ee nsaes mmaie a f lo :( ) be tv me ia fcs
n kn u h n n lss e e lme t r u rz d s olws 1 o j ci e dc l a t
a dci c lidn s ( )h o iins n c n l so s fraigp ysca ;3 s be t e ie e
n l a fn ig ;2 t e pn o a d o cu i n o te tn h iins( ) u j ci vd nc
ni
ve
o physca ma fsai ofi nne s asdesrbe t oughacama 't tmony; nd( t
f i l niettons mpai nt,
ci d hr
li nts esi
a 4) he
c a m a ' e a i voc tona hi t y,r i ua s ls a a . V ie v.Fi h,438 F. 11
l i nts duc ton, a i l sor es d l kil , nd ge
tk
nc
2d 57,

1159-0( h Ci.1 ) Unde wo v. biof,298F. 850,851(t Ci.1 .
6 4t r 971;
r od Ri c f
2d
4h r 962)
A fe a r vi w of t r co d i t s ca e t c ti c tai d t c l t t t
tr e e
he e r n hi s , he our s ons r ne o onc ude ha he
Com m i s one ' f na de i i n i s
s i r s i l c s o s uppore by s t nta e de e.I s e st ti t s m m erof
td
ubs a i l vi nc t e m ha n he u
2008,M s Cr p e r e ed a t a i a t ndon i he rght f . D r am es M . Fn m e , a
. um xpe i nc
er n e
n r i
oot
.J
r r n
o t pa di s r eo pe f m e slge y t r i t t ndo a t r i ve fa f def m iy,i
rho e c u g n, r or d tr r o epa r he e n, nd o ele l t oot or t n
A ugus of2008. D r Far e a r ed f rphysca t a y i N ove be of2008. By Fe ua y of
t
. m r r ang o
i l her p n
m r
br r
2009, . lne c ude t t s Cnz p hadr a he am a m um l lofi pr m en .W hie
Dr Fan r oncl d ha M . m
ec d
xi
eve m ove t
l
he opi d t pl i if c d not t e a e pr o
ne hat a ntf oul
ol r t ol nged sa i he r co m ende t t s ob a n
t nd ng,
e m
d ha he t i

s de ayemplyme .( 31 .M sCnz c i t e renc dico ori
e ntr
o nt TR 7) . mp ontnued o xpei e s mf tnherrghtower
i l
e r m iy, nd s s
xt e t a he ought r a m e b o he m e ca pr de s hie s ha c i d t r e ve
t e t nt y t r di l ovi r .W l he s ontnue o ec i
teat ent no doct has s
r m ,
or
uggest t pl ntf i di ed,and no doct has i cat t tshe i
ed hat ai if s sabl
or
ndi ed ha
s

una e t pe f m s ntr wor r e as e sone by Dr Far r Bas d on t medial
bl o ror ede a y
k ol s
nvi i d
. me .
e
he
c
e de e, heA d i sr tveLa l
vi nc t
m ni t a i
w udgef undt t s Cr p i lm iedt s nt r or a tvii
o
ha M . um s i t o ede a yw k c i tes
w hi h do notr quie pr onge s a ng orw al ng,a whi h w ila com m oda e occ s onalus
c
e r ol
d t ndi
ki nd
c l c
t
ai
e
ofac net a s s w ih mnbul ton.Gi n s h ar s dua f nc i na ca ciy, nd a t c i r ng
a o s it t
ai
ve uc e i l u to l pa t a fer onsde i
pl i if s a ,e a i a prorw o k ex re , voc tona e r t s ii d t tM s Cr m p
a ntf ge duc ton, nd i
r pe i nce a a i l xpe t e tf e ha
. u
co d be e c e t pe f m s ve a s cik s n a y w o k r es e s i i s g t a num be
ul
xpe t d o r or e r l pe t ede t r
r ol xi tng n i nik nt
r
i t natonaleconom y.
n he i

The c tbe i ve t t La J
our le s hat he w udge' r la e o Dr Fa m e ' r por s a t La
s e i nc n . r r s e t , nd he w
J
udge' a s s m e ofpl i if sphys c llm ia i ,a e bo h r as bl a cons s e wih t
s s e s nt
a ntf
i a i t tons r t e ona e nd
it nt t he

e de e of r c d. Fr t c ts r viw of t e de e,i a
vi nc
e or
om he our' e e
he vi nc t ppea s t t t La J e
r ha he w udg
pr
opounde a f ra c pl t hy t tca que ton t t voc tona e
d ai nd om e e po he i l s i o he a i l xper . Furhe m or ,t
t
t r e he
c tf nds t tt voc tona e r ' e ua i oft voc tona f c or ,a t as um ptons
our i
ha he a i l xpe ts val ton he a i l a t s nd he s
i
unde w hi h t e r de i r t d, r a s co i t ntw ih t e de e de ope i M s Cr p'
r c he xpe t lbe a e a e l o ns se
t he vi nc vel d n . um s
c e. l s t t c tc ude t tt La J
as n hor , he our oncl s ha he w udge' o ni de ng e il m e i s
s pi on nyi ntte nt s uppored
t
by s t tale de e. I f l st tt fna de s on oft Com m i s one m us be a lr e
ubsan i vi nc t olow ha he i l ci i
he
si r
t f m d.
O n a a t t s c t pl i ifm a nt i t tt La J
ppe l o hi our, a ntf i a ns ha he w udge unde es i a ed t ex e of
r tm t he t nt
pa n ca e by t s gi lr i s i herr g f .She poi s outt t a t a i s r tve
i us d
he ur ca esdual n
i ht oot
nt
ha , t he dm nit a i

he rng,s desrbe a numbe ofs j ci s oms i udi pan,s li t obbi
a i he ci d
r ub e tve ympt , ncl ng i welng, hr ng,
bur ng s ns ton, nd num bnes . H oweve , he c t le t tt Adm i sr tve La J
ni e a i a
s
r t our be i ves ha he
ni t a i
w udge

to t ees b e tv ma ie tt n it a c u tnd tr nn t t litf i lmie t s d n ay
o k h s u j cie nf sai s n o c o n i eemiig ha p an ifs i td o e e tr
o
w o k notr quii pr onge s a ng a wa ki a i w hi h s c n oc s ona l us a ca
r
e rng ol d t ndi nd l ng, nd n
c he a ca i ly e
ne.

4

l e t c tdoe notbelev t tM s Cnl st tm onyi i onsse wih t noton t t
nde d, he our
s
i e ha . mp' esi
s nc itnt t he i ha
s i now a e t pe f m w or i a s a e pos ton.
he s
bl o r or
k n e t d ii

I he s m ison t t c t pli if a s not t ts has a hit y ofhi bl
n r ub s i o he our, a ntf lo es ha he
sor
gh ood
pr s e,a t t s has now de l
es ur nd ha he
ve oped de e son. How e ,t cou tfnds no e de e t
pr s i
ver he r i
vi nc o

s
uppor t pr poston t tpl i ifshy re i i s s r a t a f ct rca ciyt pero
t he o ii ha antf
pe tnson s o eve e s o fe he pa t o f nn
t s ent r wor f w hi h s i o he w i e physca l c pabl M or ove ,as t pl i if s
he ed a y
k or c he s t l s
i ly a e.
e r
o a ntf
de es i t r i no a l ga i n or e de e i t exi tng r co d t s
pr s on, he e s
le to
vi nc n he s i e r o ugge tt t M s Cr m p
s ha
. u
e renc de lt tng e otona s pt s I pl i if ha now de l pe de es i of a
xpe i es biia i m i l ym om . f a ntf s
ve o d pr s on
s ve iy s tc e t af e the pe f nna e of w o k ac i t he pr pe co s i t fl a ne
e r t ufi i nt o f c r r o nc
r tviy, r o r ur e s o ie
w

a i ai f be tt ,pur ua t whih alofhe i par nt m a be c i r i a ne
pplc ton or nei s
s nt o
c l
r m ime s y
onsde ed n
w

a j cai Howe rt co t oncudest pl ntf sde esi ma not c i rdaspa t
dudi ton.
ve ,he ur c l hat ai if pr son y be onsdee
r
oft de sonc rntybeor t co t Bo desv. c e ,777F. 954( h Ci.1 .
he cii ure l f e he ur. r r He klr
2d
4t r 985)
l a tr i t Com m i s one ' fna de i i n, he c tdoesnots
n fi m ng he
s i r s i l c s o t our
ugge tt tM s Cr m p
s ha
. u

i fe ofalpa na dic or.I ee t r cor c im st tpli tf ha s f r d fom ave y
s r e l i nd s omf t nd d, he e d onfr ha a n if s ufe e r
r

sg i c n f o ij r , n t a s ewi c n iu t e p re c rsd a efcs W ih u q e to ,
in t a t o t nu y a d h t h l o tn e o x ein e e iu l fe t. to t u sin
i
l
pl i ife r e espa n a i paim e i he a bul ton.H ow e r i m us aga n be no e t t
a ntf xpe i nc
i nd m r nt n r m a i
ve , t t i
t d ha
t doc o w ho tea e pl i if ss ve e t n s c t aly f t t t a t rsz g y, s Cnl p
he t r
r t d a ntf e r d endo pe ik l o md ha , f e tr er M . m

ha r c r t s h a e e a t pe mi pe f ma e ofs de ar w o k a tviy. I m us be
d e ove ed o uc n xt nt s o r t ror nc
e nt y r c i t t t

r c g z dt a teia ii t d wo kwih u a ys be tv d s o o t o sn t fisl rnd r
e o nie h th n blt o o r t o t n u jcie ic mfr d e o o tef e e
y
acai nttt ly dia e
l ma o al sbld.Cr i v. tr 76F. 585,594- (t Ci.1 .Oncea n,i
ag Chae, 3d
95 4h r 996)
gai t
a r t t c tt tt Admi srtveLa J
ppeas o he our ha he
nitai w udgeco i e aloft s j ci f t s
nsderd 1 he ub e tve acor
ras ys
e onabl uppore byt me ca rcodi adudiai pli ifscamsf be is l d,
td he di l e r n j c tng antf li or neft. ndee

t c tbele st tt La J e ga t pl i ift be ftoft dou i a s s i he
he our ive ha he w udg ve he antf he ne i he bt n s e sng r
r sdua f to lca ct I f l t talf ce soft Com mi soners fna de ii a e
e i l unci na pa iy. t olows ha l a t
he
s i ' i l c son r
s
uppored b s t nta e de .
t y ubs a i l vi nce
A sa ge r lnze r ol i ofc lc s i t e denc i a m a t rw ihi t pr nc of
ne a l , es uton
onfi t n he vi e s
te t n he ovi e

t Comm isone e i t cou tmi r ol t c lc sdif e l
he
s i r ven f he r ght es ve he onfit fer nty.Ri ha ds n v. r es
c r o Pe al ,

s a;
upr Oppe i v. nc 495F. 396( hCi.1 .Fo t ra onssae t c ti t
nhem Fi h,
2d
4t r 974) r he e s ttd,he our tnds he
Com m i s one ' r o uton oft pe tne c lc s i t r c d i t s c s t be s
s i rs es l i
he r i nt onf i t n he e or n hi a e o
uppor ed by
t
s t nta e de e.A c or ng y, hefnal i i oft Com m i s one m us be a tr e La s
ubs a i l vi nc
c di l t i dec s on he
s i r t fi m d. w

v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o raej d me ta do d rwil e tr dti d y.
Cee rz e s p a
p r p it u g n n r e lbe nee h s a
The Clr i die t t s c rii d c e oft so ni t al c elofr cor
e k s r ced o end e tte opi s hi pi on o l ouns
e d.
EN TER : Thi 3r y ofM a c 201
s dda
r h, 4.

Chi fU nie St t D i ti tJ
e
t d a es sr c udge

6