Turman v. Colvin

Filing 32

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 09/04/2014. (ssm)

CL S OFFI U.S. DI COURT
ERK'
CE
ST.
ATROANOKE,
VA
FIED
L

I THE UN I
N
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FO R TH E W ESTERN D I I OF VI W I
STR CT
RG A
ROANOKE DI SI
VI ON

SEP 2ù 2 1
24
JUL
BY:

. DL

LERK

CLE

BRYA N F.TUR M AN ,

Ci lAdi N o. 13
vi
on
7: CV00221
Pl ntf ,
ai i f

M EM OR ANDUM QPI ON
NI
CAROLYN W .COLVI Ac i
N, tng
Co m i sonerofSoc alSe urt
m si
i
c iy,

By:

H on. l n E .
Ge
Conr d
a
Chi fUnied St t sDititJ
e
t
a e src udge

Def nda .
e nt

Pli if ha fl d t s a ton c le ng t fnalde son oft Co m isone of Socil
a ntf s ie hi c i hal ngi he i
cii
he m s i r
a
Se urt de ng pl ntf scai f ape i ofdia lt a dia lt i ur nc be tt unde t
c iy nyi ai if l m or rod
s biiy nd s biiy ns a e neis
r he

Soca Sec iyAc, sa nded, U. C. 41 i a 423.J iditonoft sc tspuruan t
il urt ta me
42 S. jj 6() nd
urs ci
hi our i s t o
j205( oft Ac, U. C. 405( .Thi c t rviw i lmiedt adeemi tonast whehe
g) he t42 S. j g) s our' e e s i t o tr nai
s
o t r
t r i s t nta e denc t s
he e s ubsa i l vi e o uppor t Comm isone ' c l i t tpl ntf f l t m e tt
t he
s i rs oncuson ha ai if aied o e he
r r m e sf re il mentt be isundert Ac . l s h s t nta e de e exit ,t fna
equie nt o ntte
o neft
he t f uc ubsa il vi nc
ss he i l

de iin oft Commisone mus beafime La v.Cee e e,368F. 640( hCi.1 )
cso he
si r t fr d. ws
lbrzz
2d
4t r 966 .
St t dbrel s t tale denc ha bee defne a s hr lva e de e, onsde i t r cor
a e ity, ubsan i vi e s n i d s uc ee nt vi nc c i rng he e d
asawhol a m i bef
e, s ght ound ade t t s ppo tac uson by ar as
quae o u r oncl i
e onabl m i Ri r on v.
e nd. cha ds

Peae ,402U. 38 401( 971.
rls
S. 9,
1 )
Thepl n if Br n F.
aitf, ya Tunna wasbor o Nove r3,1
n,
n n
mbe
970,a e nt lyco plt d hi
nd ve ual m e e s
hi s hoole a i Ac or ngt t voca ina e t
gh c
duc ton. c di o he
to l xper who t tteda t a i sr i he rng,
esii t he dm nitatve a i

pli if sbe ne oye asanoptc lase ylnewoke ,a t , e sopeaorpizacoo a
antfha e mpl d
ia s mbl i r rjnior prs rt , z
k, nd
f niur f t y c t r M r Tunna l t w or d on a r ul r a s t i ba i i 2009. On
ur t e ac or ute .
.
n as
ke
eg a nd us a ned s s n

Se e be 1 2009, r Tur a fl a a i a i f ape i ofdia lt a dia lt i lr nce
ptm r 4,
M . m n ied n pplc ton or rod
s biiy nd s biiy nsza
be f Thepl i ifalege t the be a edia e f alf m sofs t nta ganf e pl
nehs.
antf l d ha
c m s bl d or 1 or
ubsa i l i ul m oyme
nt

o S p e e 1 , 0 9, uet ab c ij r .MrTu ma n w man ansha h h s e i dd s be
n e tmb r 0 2 0 d o a k nu y . r n o
iti t t e a rmane ia ld
t t pr s nttm e. r co dr ve st tpli ifm e t i ur d sa usr quie nt oft Ac a
o he e e i The e r e al ha antf t he ns e tt e r me s he t t

alee nti se r dbyt fna decso oft Commisone .Se ze r l 42U. C.jj41 i
1rlva tme ove e he i l iin he
si r e nealv
S.
6()

a d4 ()
n 23a .
M r Tur a s cai wa de e u n i ta c i r ton a r c i r ton. He t n
. m n' l m
s ni d po niil onsde a i nd e ons de a i
he

r se a rceved ad novo heai a r e beor a Admi srtveLa J . l a
eque td nd e i
rng nd eviw f e n
nitai
w udge n n
o ni da e De embe 1 201 t La J
pi on t d c
r 4, 1,he w udgealodetr i dt t r Tur ni not s bl The
s e m ne ha M . ma s dia ed.
La J
w udgef undt tpl i ifs f sfo s ve al e r i par e s i l nghype tnson; t t
o
ha antf ufer r m e r s ve e m im nt, ncudi
re i sa us

p s c mp e so fa tr o t eto a i s n ; b st , eymida j sme t io d r t d prse
o t o r sin r cu e f h h r cc pie o e i v r l d u t n ds r e wih e e s d
y'
m o a pa n dior r as oc a e wih ps hol ca f t s a a ge r m e ca co ton.
od; nd i s de s i t d t yc ogi l acor nd
ne al di l ndii
Be us oft e i par e s t La J e r l d t tM r Tur a i dia e f al ofhi pas
ca e hes m im nt , he w udg u e ha
. m n s s bld or 1
s t
r l va wor r e . Howe r t La J
e e nt k ol s
ve , he w udgede e ne t tpl ntf r t i s tcintf tonal
t nni d ha ai if e a ns ufi e unc i
ca iy f s dentr wor a tviy. The La J
pact or e a y
k ci t
w udge not d t tpl i ifs physc li pa t f
e ha antf
i a nca ciy or
kneei c a i a di bi hi i biiy t soo o c ouc m or t n oc sonaly;a hi
lng, r wlng, nd m ng; s na lt o t p r r h
e ha ca i l nd s
i biiyt t e aeexpos et he gh sa ha ar , lg l lm it r ngeofs nt ywor f whih
na lt o olr t
ur o i t nd z ds si hty i t he a
ede ar
k or c

hei ot r s physc l c pa e.( 32) TheLa J r i ont tsi
s hewie ialy a bl TR .
w udge eled he etmonyofavocai l
tona
e r i c udi t ts h physc r src i donotsg fc ty e odet s de a y, kil
xpe t n oncl ng ha uc
i al e titons
i niian l r he e nt r uns led

oc upaina bas ( 32) Fi l t La J saedt tt li ntsmenallmiai donot
c to l e. TR . naly,he w udge tt ha k ama ' t i ttons
c

sg iia tyeo et eo c p to a j bb s . TR 3 ) Ha i gd tr ne t t an ifsp y ia
in fc n l r d h c u ain l o a e'
'( 2 . v n eemi d ha plitf h sc l
andm e a pr bl m sdo no sgnii a l r src t r ngeofs nt r wor aci t f whih hei
nt l o e
t i fc nty e tit he a
ede a y k tviy or c
s
ca bl t La J
pa e, he w udge a i d t m e ca voca i lgui i s ast c ude t tM r Tur a
pple he di l
tona delnes o o ond
ha
. m n
r t ns s tci nt fm c i
e ai ufi e t tonal c pac t t pe f m s ve al s ii s nt r w or r es e s i i
a iy o r or e r pec f c ede a y
k ol xitng n

sgnii ntnumbe i t nai e onomy.Se ge r l 20C. R.j40 1 a Rul 20128of
i fca
r n he tonal c
e nealy, F.
4.569, nd e .
Appe x 2 t Subpa tP oft Ad i sr tve Re a i Pa t404. Ac or ngl t La J e
ndi o
r
he m nitai
gul tons r
e di y, he w udg

uli ae yc l dt M r Tur a i no dia e a t thei no e ildt ape i ofdiabiiy
tm tl oncude hat . m n s t s bld, nd ha
s t ntte o rod
s lt

ordia lt i urnc be tt.Se 20C. R.j404.5694) TheLaw J
sbiiy ns a e neis e
F.
1 a.
udge' opi onwasa e
s ni
doptd
ast fnaldecson oft Comm isone b t SocilSe urt Ad i sr ton' Appe sCounci.
he i
ii
he
s i r y he
a c iy m nita i s
al
l
Havi e use a 1a ia e a nita i r m e es M r Tur a ha nota ald t t sco t
ng xha t d 1 val bl dmi sr tve e di , . m n s
ppe e o hi ur .
W hie pl ntf m a be d s e f r c ra n f m s of e oy e , t c uc a f c ua
l ai if y
iabld o e ti or
mpl m nt he r i l a t l
de e nai i wheherpl ntf wasdiabld f ralf nnsofs tntalganf e pl ym e . Se
t nni ton s t
ai if
s e o l o
ubsa i i ul m o nt e

42U. C.j423()2) Ther aef elme sofpr whihmus bec i e i ma ngs ha
S.
d ( . e r our e nt
oof c
t onsderd n ki uc n

a ay i.Th s ee n saes mma ie a f lo :( ) b e tv me ia fcsa dci ia fn ig ;
n lss e e lme t r u rz d s ol ws 1 o j cie d c l a t n lnc li dn s
( t opi ons a c usons of te tng physcins ( s e tve e de e of physca
2) he ni
nd oncl i
rai
i a ; 3) ubjci vi nc
il
ma fsai ofi ime t,asdesrbe t o h a cama ' t tmony'a ( t cli nts
niettons mpar n s
ci d hr ug li nts esi , nd 4) he ama '
e ai vocai l sor r sdua s lsa a .Vie v. nc 438F. 11 11 60( hCi.
duc ton, tona hit y,e i l kil, nd ge tk Fi h,
2d 57, 59- 4t r

1 71 ; d r o v. bio f 2 F.d8 0 8 ( t Ci. 9 2 .
9 ) Un e wo d Ri c f, 98 2 5 , 51 4h r 1 6 )
Afe a r vi w of t r or i t s c s ,t c ti c tai d t co l t t t
tr e e
he ec d n hi a e he our s onsr ne o ncude ha he
Com misone ' fna decson i s
s i r s i l ii s uppore by s t nta e denc
td
ubsa il vi e.W hiet La J
l he w udge' opi on
s ni

i c rany n tap r dg f rcamsa j dc t n,hec u t eive t a t eLa J d esciia
s etil o a a im o li d u iai t o r b l s h t h w u g ' rtc l
o
e
fndi ar s
i ngs e uppored by t e de e i M r Tur n' c s Re
t
he vi nc n . ma s a e. cogni ng t tM r Tur n' pan
zi ha . ma s i
docor woul notofe a opi on as t r i ua f to llmia i ,pl i ifs at ne a t
t
d
f r n ni
o esd l unci na i t tons antf ' tor y t he
a i sr tve he rng r quese t tt Law J e r f rM r Tunuan f a c ula i e l i
dm nita i
a i e t d ha he
udg e e
.
or ons t tve vauaton.

( 43- . The La J
TR 44)
w udge a e d t r erMr Tunna t Dr W ilam H.Humphres J. al
gre o ef
.
n o . li
i , r, t
e e ge y m e c ne s ci ls , nd D r J f r y P.Luc t , ps hol s . Dr H um phrese m i d
m r nc
di i pe a i t a
. e fe
ke t a yc ogi t .
i xa ne
3

M r Tur n on Oc o r20,2011 a pr uc d a r por,dignosng hy tnson a hit y of
. ma
t be
, nd od e
e t a
i
pere i nd sor
c pr s o f a ur oft t r c c s ne D r H um phr e al o c pl t d a m e c as e s e of
om es i n r d e he ho a i pi . .
i s s om e e
di al s s m nt
pl ntf sph i la lt f wor r a e ac i te . D r H um phr e as es m e i c esr s dua
ai i f
ysca biiy or k-el t d tvii s
.
i s' s s nt ndi at e i l

f tona ca ciy f s dentr e ri wih t a to lr srci uli a ey ct d by t
unc i l pa t or e a y xe ton, t he ddii na e ti tons tm t l ie
he

Admi sr tveLaw l
nita i
udgei so ni Theps hol s, . ke tco
nhi pi on.
yc ogitDr Luc ts nduc e aclni a i e viw
t d i c l ntr e
o Oc obe 25, 1 Dr Lucketdignos d pai dior ras oc ae wih ps hol c f c or a
n t r 201 . .
t a
e
n s de s i td t yc ogial a t s nd

g n r l d c le ndto a d aveymid a j t n d s r e wi d p e s d mo . Dr Lu k t
e ea me ia o i n, n
i
r l dusme t iod r t e rs e od . c et
h
s iial opi t tpl ntf woul beca bl ofwoki onar ulra s t nedbass (
pecfc ly ned ha ai if d
pa e
r ng
eg a nd usai
i. TR
447) Dr Luc tas c ee ame c la s s ntofpl ntf sme a a lt f wor rlt
. . ket lo ompltd
dia sesme
ai if ntl biiy or k-eaed
a tvii .O nc a i t ps hol s not d no m or t n ve ym id i pa nne ast s cii , or
c i tes
e ga n, he yc ogi t e
e ha r l m i nt o pe f c w kr ae e oi
el t d m tonalc pone s
om
nt .

The c tbe ivest tt Adm i sr tve La J
our le
ha he
nitai
w udge r as bl r i on t r por ofDr
e ona y eled
he e t
.

Hu h isi a j diaig panifscam. Th Co si n ras r l so t fc t td s ie
mp re n du c tn li tf li
e mmiso e lo ei n he a t ha e pt
e
muli eofi viis pl ntf' teai physcin hasnots sedt tM r Tur
tpl fce st , ai if s r tng
ia
ugge t ha . man i dia e f
s s bl d or
wor aci t The c ta s bei ve t tt La J
k tviy.
our lo le s ha he w udger s
ea onabl r i on t t tmony oft
y eled
he esi
he
voc tonale r i c udi t t t physc lm ia i i ntte by Dr Humphre do not
ai
xpe t n oncl ng ha he
ial i ttons de ii d
.
is
sgnik a l c
i t nty ompr iepl i ifsa lt t pe f r s ntr wor a tviy.
om s antf biiy o r o m ede a y k c i t
TheLa J
w udge' team e ofDr Luc t' r po ti m o epr e tc. De piefndi t t
s r t nt
. ke ts e r s r obl ma i
s t i ng ha

M r Tur a e renc s ve e e o i
. m n xpe i es e r m tonali im e s t La J
mpar nt, he w udge uli ael de e mi d t
tm t y t r ne hat
pli ifs e o i
antf m tonallm iai a eno s s ve e ast pr ven pe f m a e oft s de a y wor
i t tons r t o e r
o e t ror nc
he e nt r
k
a tvii f whi h hei ot r s phys c ly c pabl Thec t ns de st Law J
c i tes or c
s he wi e
i a l a e.
our co i r he
udge' tea m e
s r t nt

oft no xe tona fcor t bea oddswiht pr sonsof20C. R. 40 1 , c pr de
he ne ri l a t s o t
t he ovii
F. j 4.521 whih ovi s
4

t t by dei ton,a s ve e i nue i one whi h sgniia l lmist a lt t do ba i wo k
ha ,
tnii
e r mpai nt s
c i fc nty i t he biiy o
sc r
a tvii . H ow e r t c tm us uli a e y co ude t tt La J
c i tes
ve , he our
t tm t l ncl
ha he w udge' de a ofbe ft i
s ni l
ne is s

cons se wih Dr Luc t' opi on. Cla l Dr Luc t sa e t tM r Tur a s e o i
itnt t . ke ts ni
e ry, . ke t tt d ha
. m n' m tonal

pr e sa e no m or t n mid,a t tpli ifs d be c pa e o wor ng on a r gul ra
obl m r
e ha
l nd ha a ntf houl
a bl f ki
e a nd

s san d b ssl W h l te c u tma no s b c ie t t e La J d e s cams a j iain
u tie a i.
ie h o r y t u srb o h w u g ' li dudc to
me hodol t c t le st tt e de f ly s
t
ogy, he our bei ve ha he vi nce ul upporst decson t tM r Tur a i not
t he ii ha . m n s
dia e f s ii ,s de a ywor r ese si i sgnii a numbe i t na i le onom y. l
s bl d or pecfc e nt r
k ol xitng n i fc nt
r n he tona c
t

f l t tt fna de son oft Comm isone m us beafi
olows ha he i l cii
he
si r t
fnued.
On a al ot sc tpl i ifr ie anumbe ofis wih t team e ofhi c e, 1of
ppe t hi our, antf a s s
r s ues t he r t nt
s as al
whi h ha a g bl me i. Pli ifma n a nst tt La J e e r i r l ng on Dr Lucke ts
c ve r ua e rt a ntf i t i ha he w udg red n eyi
.
t'
ps hol c r por. l hi r por,Dr Luc t quesi t a c ac oft r s t ofc ran oft
yc ogial e t n s e t . ket
tons he c ur y he e uls e ti
he

ps hol c le t pef
yc ogia tss ronueda parofhi ci c e mi tonofM rTur
s t s lnial xa nai
. man.( 444- .Plitf
TR
45) anif
a gue t ts h c
r s ha uc once s s d ha al red t La J
m houl ve e t he w udge a t t ne es iy t cont c Dr Luc t
s o he c st o
a t . ke t

f fzt rclrfc ton a t whehe t ps hol c di gnos sa a s s e a eva i Howe r
or t he a ii a i s o
r
t r he yc ogial a
e nd s es m nt r ld.
ve ,
t c tfndsno ne f r mand oft sc e f f rhe i
he our i
ed or e
hi as or u t r nputfom Dr Luc t. Dr Luc t i a
r
. ke t . ke t s
tai d, i c l yc ogit The ei e r r a ont be ivet t woul ha consde e het tng
r ne clni a ps hol s. r s ve y e s o le ha he
d ve
i r dt esi
c e nsi e l tngpl ntf sca e Dr Luc t a r ntyha nor e v to i c r trzngM r
onc r n vaua i ai if s . . ke t ppa e l d es r a i ns n ha ace ii
.
Tunna se i llmia i asmid i o r l i pa t Onc agan,hec t le t tt La
n' motona i ttons
l n ve al m c .
e i t our bei ves ha he w

J d era o a l r le o Dr Luc etsrp r i a j dc t plitf scam.
u g e s n b y eid n . k t' e o tn du iai anif li
ng

1Stt d difr nty, i lgh ofDr Luc tsr po t t c tbele t tt Law J
ae fe e l n i t
. ket' e r, he our ives ha he
udge er d i fndi
re n i ng
is ve e'e otona i r nt
çe r ' m i l mpaime s.

5

Pl ntf as mai ai t tt Law J
ai if lo nt ns ha he
udgei pr ry e ua e hi t tm o es i l hi
m ope l val t d s esi ny, pecaly s
co pl nt ofpan, ndi o rya s s e hi cr di lt W ihout si M r Tur a st tmony
m ai s
i a mpr pe l s e s d s e biiy. t que ton, . m n' esi
a t a i sr tvehe rngs
t he dm nitai
a i ugge t t thei no u bl t do a wor on ar gulrand s t ne
ss ha
s w na e o
ny
k
e a
usai d

b ss Ho ve,ntr o plitf ss b e tv c mplit,t s b rc n z dt a,no de fr
a i. we r i ems f an if u j cie o an s imu t e e og ie h ti r r o

p i ob d e dds b ig teemu t eo j cieme ia e i e c etbl hngs mec n iint a
ant e e me ia ln ,h r s b b e tv dc l v d n e sa i i o o dto h t
s
co dras bl bee ce t pr
ul e ona y xpe td o oducet panalge Cr i v. tr 76F. 585,5 93( h
he i le d. az Chae, 3d
92- 4t
Ci.1 ; trv. c e,780F. 11 11 ( h Ci.1 ) l t i tntc s ,t cou t t
r 996) Fose He klr
2d 25, 29 4t r 986 . n he nsa a e he r mus
c l t tpl ntf s e de f ls s r i es a i hi t e s enc ofa c
onc ude ha ai if vi nce a l ho t n t bls ng he xi t e
ondii w hi h c d
ton
c oul
r a ona y c us t l velof di c f tdes rbe by M r Tur a i hi t s i ony. Once aga n,i
e s bl a e he e
s om or
ci d
. m n n s e tm
i t

mus be notd t tt pa n s cils who ha r ulry teaed M r Tur a ha no s
t
e ha he i pe a it
s eg a l r t
. m n s t uggese t t
t d ha

panife p re c sattlds b ig lv lo s b e tv dic mf r. M o et te p it te c u t
litf x e in e oa ia ln e e f u j cie s o o t r o h on , h o r
c i r t r por ofDr Humphres whowa c
onsde s he e t
.
i ,
s ommi sone t conduc ac ula i e m i ton
si d o
t ons t tve xa na i
a pl i ifsbehe t t be i ons se wih t no i t tpl ntf sphysc lpr e spr uc pan
t antf
s, o nc it nt t he ton ha ai if
ia oblm od e i
whih i s s ve e ast pr vental wor aci t I ed,Dr Humphre s cik al no e t t
c s o e r
o e
l k tviy. nde
.
i s pe t ly t d ha

pli ifsrngeofmoinwa no i rdorlmie ( 431 .I s tt co tbeivest t i
antf a
to s t mpaie i td. TR ) n hor,he ur le ha,n
a s sng pl ntf sr i f tona ca c t t La J er s bl c i e M r Tur n'
s es i ai if esdual unc i l pa iy, he w udg ea ona y onsder d . ma s

lv l fs b e tv ds o o t
e e o u j cie ic mfr.
I a fnni t fna de i i n oft Co m i s one , heco t
n fi ng he i l c s o
he m s i r t
ur doesnots
ugge tt tM r Tur a
s ha . m n

i feeofa1pan, s om f t wea s a physc lr srci n.l d, hemedialr c d c i ms
sr
1 i dic or, knes , nd
i a e tito ndee t
c e or ontr
t tpl ntf s f r fom r i l ofc
ha ai if ufe s r esdua s
ompr son facur oft t a c s ne,a wel a ot
es i r t e he hor ci pi s l s her

musul keltl fiulis whihca beexpe tdt rs ti manys j ci c ant.Howe ,
c os ea difc te , c n
ce o eul n
ub e tve ompli s
ver
i mus a n benot t tnodoct hass
t t gai
ed ha
or
ugge t d t tpl ntf sphysca pr e sa es s ver a
se ha ai if
i l oblm r o e e s
6

t r s l i ttl ds bi s be t ema fsain .l i welstldt t h ia iiyt dowo k
o e u t n o al ia l u j ci nie tto s t s l ete ha t e n b l o
y
ng
v
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