Austin v. Colvin

Filing 21

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 07/22/2014. (ssm)

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CL S OFFI O. DI COURT ERK' CE S. ST. AT ROANOKE, VA Fi LEO I THE UNI S N TED TATESDI TRI COURT S CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A R OAN O KE DI SI VI ON J 22 2 1 UL 29 J UU :v: U (' -6 E UTY CL ERK SHA RON P.AU STI N Ci lA c i N o. 7: vi ton 13CV 00251 Pl i if a ntf , M EM O M N DU M O PI I N N O CA ROLY N W . LVI , c i CO N A tng Com m i s one ofSoc alSe urt si r i c iy, By: H on. l E.Corr d G en ta Chi fU nie St t s Di t i tJ ge e t d a e sr c ud D e e nt f nda . Pli tf ha fl t saci c le ng t fna de ii oft Comm isone ofSoca a n if s ied hi ton ha lngi he i l c son he si r il Se urt de ngpl i ifsc am f s e àl e urt nc be ft unde t Soc a Se urt c iy nyi antf l i or upplmen s c iyi ome ne is r he i l c iy Ac,asn nde 42U. C.j 1 qts g. J iditon oft sc ti purua t 42 U. C.j t me d, S. 381 e. urs ci hi our s s nt o S. 1 c( , c i or ae j205( oft SocilSe urt Act42U. C.j405g) Thi c t 383()3)whih nc ports g) he a c iy , S. ( . s our' s r viw i lm ied t a deer na i a t whe he t r i s t nta e de e t s e e s i t o t mi ton s o t r he e s ubsa i l vi nc o uppor t t he Com m i s o rsc l i ha pl i iff ie t m ee t c tonsf e il m e tes a i hed by s i ne ' onc usont t a ntf a l d o t he ondii or ntte n t bls a pur ua t t A c .l s h s t nta e de e e s s t fna de s on oft Com m i s one nd s nt o he t f uc ubsa i l vi nc xi t , he i l ci i he si r mus beafimed.Lawsv.Cee e ze 368 F. 6 (t Ci.1 .Sttdbrel s tnta t fr lbrz , 2d 40 4h r 966) ae ify, ubsa il e de ehasbe n de i ass h r e nte denc , onsde i t r c d a a whol ,a m i htbe vi nc e fned uc el va vi e c i r ng he e or s e s g f ound a ua et s deq t o uppor ac ncusonbyar s na em i Riha ds v. r l s 402U . 38 t o l i ea o bl nd. c r on Pe a e , S. 9, 40l( 971. 1 ) Thepl i if Sha o P. us i w a bor on Se e ber1 1 a ntf , r n A tn, s n pt m 3, 970.W hieM s Aus i she d l . tnha l sverlobsfrveys r pei oftme t Admi srtveLaw J f t ts thasnopa t e aj o r ho t rods i ,he nitai udge ound ha he û s r e twor ' ( 22) OnDe e r1 2009, s Ausi flda a iainf s e ntl elvan k. TR . ' c mbe 6, M . tn ie n pplc to or upplme a s c iy i om e be ft . Pl ntf aleg d t ts bec m e di a e f al f m s of s t nta e ur t nc ne is ai if l e ha he a s bl d or l or ubs a i l gai ul m pl e o J r a y 1 200 duet m uli em e a il s s bi ar ood s i , nge nf e oym nt n a m r , 3 o tpl nt l lnes e , pol m w ngs a r is ,l c off us s ve e de es i hy r c i t pa c a tc ,a ey, c pan,a t ii, s ues a k oc , e r pr son, pe a tviy, ni ta ks nxit ba k i rhrts hea c ,a j ntpai Pli ifnow mant nst ts hasrmai d dia edt t pr s n da hes nd oi n. antf i ai ha he e ne sbl o he e e t tm e i . M s Ausi sa ia i . tn' pplc tonwasde e ni dupo i ta c i r to a e onsde a i Shet n n nii l onsde a in ndr c i r ton. he r equese a rc ve aX novohe rnga rviw beor anAdmi sr tveLa J td nd e ei d ai nd e e f e nitai w udge.I a n n o ni da e Fe ta y 9,201 t La J pi on t d brz r 2, he w udge a s de e m i d t tpl ntf i notdi a ed. The l o t r ne ha ai if s s bl Law J udge f ound t tM s Ausi s f r fom a hit y ofpol ubsa e a e'a et posha . tn ufe s r sor ys t nc bus , nxi y; t t a a i sr sdi or r bi a / t ym i dior r pa cdi or r pe s na iydi or r l ba , r um tc tes s de ; pol rdys h c s de ; ni s de ; r o lt s de ; um go' a s de a tlal a.( 1 .Be us oft s i i nt,heLa J r e t tpli if nd houl r rlr gi TR 4) ca e he e mpanne st w udge uld ha antf i dia e f a hi m o et n almie r ngeoflg wor aci t s s bld or nyt ng r ha i t d a i ht k tviy.The La J e a s s d w udg s es e M s A usi sr i ualf tona ca c t a f l s . tn' es d unc i l pa iy s olow : Afe c r f l c i r ton oft en ie r c d,t unde sgne fnds t t t tr a e' onsde a i u he tr e or he ri d i ha he cli a ha t r i f nci c pa t t pe f m lg wo k asde i d i 20 am nt s he esdual u tonal a ciy o ror iht r fne n CFR 41 967(9 e e s s d a d ale ur t haz r ma hi r 6. 1 xc pt he houl voi l xpos e o adous c ney, unpr ec ed he ght , nd c i bi orl dder ,r ot t i s a lm ng a s opesa s a f ds The cl i a i nd c f ol . a m nt s lm ie t sm pl r i , r pe ii uns le w or t s ; pr i t d o i e, outne and e ttve kil d k a ks no oduc i r t or ton a e pa w or w ih sr c pr ton s a z ;no i e ac i n w ih t publc;a no ce k t ti t oduc i t nda ds nt r to t he i nd m or t n occ s ona i e a to w ih c wor r a s r i or . e ha a i l nt r c i n t o- ke s nd upe v s s ( 1 .Gi ns har i lf nci lc pa t a a rc i rngpli ifsa , ai TR 6) ve uc esdua u tona a ciy, nd he onsdei antf ge educ ton, a l c ofprorw or e r e e as wel a t tm on f o a voc tona e r , he La J nd a k i k xpe i nc , l s esi y ' m r a i l xpe t t w udge de e m i d t tM s Aus i r ai s f c e f to ca c t t peror s ve als cii lg t r ne ha . tn et ns uf i i nt unc i nal pa iy o f m e r pe tc i ht w o k r e e s i i s g tc tnum be i t na i lec r ol s xitng n i nii an r n he tona onom y. Acc di y,t Law J or ngl he udge uli a e y c l ed t tM s A us i i notdi a e a t ts i note il t s e en a tm t l onc ud ha . tn s s bl d, nd ha he s ntted o uppl m t l s trt i omebeneks Se ge rly,20 C. R.j41 9 g .TheLa J e' opi o wa ecziy nc t . e neal F. 6.20() w udg s nin s adopt ast fnaldeci on oft Com m i i ed he i si he ss onerby t Soci Secmi y A dm i staton' A ppeal he al t ni r i s s Counc l Ha nge i. vi xhause a1a ia ea i sr tver medi , s Ausi ha no a a e t t d 1 va lbl dm nita i e es M . tn s w ppe l d o t s court hi . W hie pl i i f m a be di a e f c rai f m s of em pl en , t c uc a f c ual l a ntf y s bl d or e t n or oym t he r i l a t d t r i ton i w he her a ntf w a dia e f a l or sofs t tal i ul m pl e .Se e e m na i s t pl i if s s bl d or l f m ubsan i ga nf e oym nt e 42U. C.j 1 2c() Theea ef ee nt ofpr whihmus bec i rdi ma ngs h S. 38 a. r r our lme s oof c t onsdee n ki uc ana l i.Thes eeme saes nayss e l nt r ummaieda f l :( )ob e tveme c fcsa ci c rz s olows 1 j ci dial a t nd lnial fn i g ;2 teo no a dc n lso so te tn p y iin ;3 s b e tv e ie c o p y ia id n s ( )h piins n o cu i n fraig h sca s ( ) u j cie vd n e f h sc l ma ie tt nso i anne t, sd srb dt r u h acama t tsi n a ( t ecama t nf sai f mp i ns a e ci e h o g li n ' e tmo y; nd 4) h li n ' o s s ed ton, ai hit y,e i ls ls a age Vie v. nc 438F. 11 11 60( h ucai voc tonal sor rsdua kil, nd . tk Fi h, 2d 57, 59- 4t Ci.1 ) Unde woodv. biof,298F. 8 851( hCi.1 . r 971 ; r Ri c f 2d 50, 4t r 962) Afera r viw oft r or i t s c e,t co ti c tai d t c ude t t t t e e he ec d n hi as he ur s onsr ne o oncl ha he Com m i s one ' fna de i i n i s s i r s i l c s o s uppore by s t nta e de e. M s Aus i s f r f om a td ubs a i l vi nc . tn uf e s r c bi ton ofph i la e o i lc tons The c tbe i vest tt m edi alevi nce om na i ys ca nd m tona ondii . our le ha he c de c e ry s l a l uppor st Law J t he udge s fndi t tpl i i f s s ve e ph i lpr bl m s do notpr ve ' i ng ha a ntf e r ys ca o e e nt pe f m a e oflgh e l ve sofwor a tviya H oweve , s A us i se otona pr e s m ood r or nc i tr e l k ci t l r M . tn' m i l obl m , di or r a pe s lt de i i i pr s n a m uc c os r que to A c or ng t pl i if s s de , nd r ona iy fc enc es e e t h l e s i n. c di o a ntf t tm ony, heha r e vedt e t e f va i e otona s m pt sove ape i ofs ve al a s es i s s ec i r a m nt or rous m i l y om r r od e r ye r . She c r i a di nos s of bi a di o der a he doc or ha pr de t e t en f pa c, a res ag i pol r s r , nd r t s ve ovi d r a m t or ni a e y,a r and de e s on. nxi t nge , pr s i 1l t s r pec , teLa J d erj ce t f dig o tesaea e c p y iin wh c n ld dta Ms n hi es t h w u g ee td he i n s f h tt g n y h sca s o o cu e h t . n Au tn d d n th v s v r p ysc li ar n . ( 2 ) T La J d e h l t a p an ifslmb g s o l e si i o a e e e e h ia mp ime t TR 0 . he w u g ed h t l itf ' u a o, h u d r pr e s a a t ii c pli sar s s ver ast pr ve pe f nc ofm e mnandhe wor a tviy, ndt t oblm , nd rhrtc om ant e o e e o e nt ronna e di avy k c i t a ha t s m epr em slm it r ngeofs ntr ndlg wor a tviyf he a obl i the a ede a ya iht k c i t orwhihplitf soher s physcal ca bl c anifi t wie i ly pa e. Suc fndi a ef l consse w iht medial ec d. h i ngs r uly itnt t he c r or I c nu to wi t ea j iaino plitf scam f rs p lme tls c rt ic me n o j nci n t h dudc to f an if li o u pe n a e u i n o h y be tt , he s a e di a lt a nc r f r ed M s Aus i t D r M a vi A .Gar ne ,J . a c i ca nei s t t t s biiy ge y e e r . tn o . r n d r r , lni l ps ychol s ,f a consulatve eval i The prm ar diput i t s cas concer t pr ogi t or ti uaton. i y s e n hi e ns he oper i e pr t ton t be gi n t Dr Ga dne ' ps hol c l r por . U li a el t La J nt r e a i o ve o . r r s yc ogi a e t tm t y, he w udge de e m i d t Dr Ga dne ' a s s me s t r ne hat . r rs s e s nt upporsa fndng ofr sdua f tona ca ciy f t i i e i l unci l pa t or sm pl , outne a r pe ii uns le w or as no i vi pr uc i n w or i e ac i w ih i e r i , nd e ttve, kil d kt ks t nvol ng od t o k, nt r ton t t publc orm or t n oc as o li e a ton w ih c w or r a s r s s he i, e ha c i na nt r c i t o- ke s nd upe vi or . H a ng r vi w e a lt e de of r cor t c tm us a e t t t La J vi e e d l he vi nce e d, he our t gr e ha he w udge' s fndi a enot m r s bl a t tt La J e' a s s m e tofpl i if sr s dual u tonal i ngs r l ea ona e, nd ha he w udg s s e s n a ntf e i f nc i c pa iy i s a c t s uppored by t m e c l r co d. A t t a i s r tve he r ng, t La J t he di a e r he dm nit a i ai he w udge pr opounde ahypot tca quesi t avoc tona e r whih i l edasumptonsba e ont d he i l ton o a i l xpe t c ncud s i s d he La J w udge' as e s e ofDr Ga dne ' r por ,a wel as lm ia i as oc a e wih pl i if s s s s m nt . r r s e t s l i t tons s i t d t a ntf ph i lpr e s l r s ysca obl m . n e pons t voc tona e r i ntfe s ver ls ii lghtw or r e i e, he a i l xpe t de ii d e a pec f c i k ol s n whi h pl i ifco d be e c a ntf ul xpec e t pe f m . I ap a st t c tt tt voca i le t d o r or t pe r o he our ha he tona xper' ts e ua i oft voc tona f c or , t a s ptons unde w hi t e r de i r t d,a e val ton he a i l a t s and he s um i r ch he xpe t lbe a e r bot r s na e a co i t n w iht e de e ofr cor The c t nc udest t heLa J e h ea o bl nd ns s e t t he vi nc e d. our co l ha t w udg pr pe l r le on t voc tonale r ' i o ry e i d he a i xpe ts nputi as e sng pl i if s c pa iy f r a t m a e w or n ssi a ntf a c t o le t k a tviis Thus t c tfndst tt r co d s c i te . , he our i ha he e r upporst La J t he w udge' de e mi ton t tM s s t r na i ha . A us i r t i s f c ent f to l c pa t t pe f m s ve a s c fc w or r e e s i i tn e a ns ufi i unc i na a ciy o r or e r l pe ii k ol s xitng n s gnii a num be i t na i le nom y. I m uc as t c thas c uded t tt La i f c nt r n he tona co nas h he our oncl ha he w J udge' opi on i s s ni s uppor e b s t n i l e de e i f l s t t fnal de s on of t t d y ubs a t a vi nc , t olow hat he i cii he Com m i si s onerm us be af i t fnned. 4 Asno e a t d bove, n t c tsvi w , hi c s t r o t w e ght asw e la t e pha e , i he our' e t s a e u ns n he i , l s he m ss t be a co d t Dr Ga d r sps hol ca tndi . On a o c r ed o . r ne ' yc ogi l i ngs ppea , a ntf m a nt i t tt Law l pl i if i a ns ha he J g i r p ryrj ce c rano Dr Gad e' fndng , ndt tteLa J g fie t sae ud e mp o el ee td e ti f . z n rs i i s a ha h w ud e ald o tt m e ni ulr as i s a ngf e ons n uppor ofhi as e s e t oft ps hol c lr por . M or s c fc l t s s sm n he yc ogi a e t e pe i i aly, pli ifco e t tt La J antf nt nds ha he w udge f ie t t ke i o ac o tDr Ga d rs o e vai n t t al d o a nt c un . r ne ' bs r to ha t l mantsm a ke i im e ofc en r ton woul pr em a ke wo k-elt d i par e l ai c ' z d mpar nt onc ta i d oduc r d r r a e m im nt o c nrton, ritnce o pa .'( 269 .Asnoedb pl ntf, . r ras obsr ed f once tai pesse , r ce' TR ) t y ai if Dr Ga dne lo e v t a tecama tstu g n i mo eaeyt mak dyi ardi d iylf . ( 2 8 .Fi l h th li n ' j d me t s d rtl o r e l mp ie n al ie' TR 6 ) nal ' y, pl i ifa guest tD r G a dne ' fnd ngsa as e s e t nd t s a ntf r ha . r r s i i nd s s m nt e o uppor t c e biiy ofm uc t he r di lt h ofpl ntf st si ony, ndt tt La J ai if e tm a ha he w udgei ope l dic t t tpori oft t si o mpr ry s oun ed ha ton he e tm ny s ugge tng i biiy t pe f m r gul ra s t i d w or a tviy. s i na lt o ror e a nd us a ne k ci t W hie pl i if s a gum e s a e m e ngf ,a no w ihout s e s l a ntf r nt r ani ul nd t t om uppo ti t m e c r n he di al r or t co tmus uli aey c l t tt La J ge' tndi ofr i ec d, he ur t tm t l onc ude ha he w ud s i ng esdualf nc i nal u to ca c t f a lm ie r pa iy or i t d ange ofw or i co i t n w ih t co ula i ps hol c lr por . D r k s ns s e t t he ns t tve yc ogi a e t . Ga dne s c/c ly f und t tM s Ausi i ta e t pe f m smpl a r pe ii t s a r r pe i a l o ha . tn s ûbl o ror i e nd e ttve a ks nd mai ai r gulratnda ei t worplc ' ( 269) TheLa J a e t sfndi a nt n e a te nc n he k a e.' TR . w udge doptd hi i ng nd i l nc uded i i t hypo he i alquesi n pos d t t voc tona expe t The La J t n he t tc to e o he a i l r. w udge a s not d lo e D r Ga d r s de e m i ton t t pl i i f i a e t d r or w or a tvii s w ihout s i or . r ne ' t r na i ha a ntf s bl o ' f m pe k c i te t pec al a t o s r son, a t ts i a e t tc pl t a nor a w or y o w or e k w ihou ddii nal upe vi i ' nd ha he s bl o t om e e ' m l kda r kw e t t i er i r uli fom he ps hiti co to '( 269) . ntruptons es tng r r yc arc ndiin' TR . A sf pl i if sc e r t o o e s t c ur not t tt r i s er a o t bele or a ntf onc nt a i npr bl m , he o t es ha he e s om e s n o i ve t tM s Ausi woul e j abetrl lofpef ma ei pr l te t Att tmeofhi ha . tn d noy te eve ror nc f opery raed. he i s e ua i on M a 1 2010, . r rsa e t tM s Ausi i t ure l nott ki a m e a val ton y 9, Dr Ga dne tt d ha . tn s E r nty c a ng ny ntl heat me c tons' ( 264) Fi l t co tbele st ti fndi ar i lf tonal lh diai . TR ' . naly, he ur ive ha n i ng esdua unci ca c t f alm ie r ng oflght ri t La J epr pe l r le on r por sf o t o s a e pa iy or i t d a e i exe ton, he w udg o ry e i d e t r m w t t ag y ps hol i t who pe f m e r c d r vi w s a of e ed o ni as pa tof t ea le enc yc og s s r or d e or e e nd f r pi ons r he ri r a j iaino plitf scam frb n ft.Boh saea e yps c o o it c n ld dt a Ms dudc to f an if li o e e is t tt g nc y h l gss o cu e h t . Ausi e re esno mor t m ode aelm ia i , nd t ts i no dia e f ra1 f tn xpe i nc e han r t i t tons a ha he s t s bl d o 1 onnsof wo k. ( 60- a 73- . Bot ps hol ss e plcil consdee and rle upon Dr r TR 64 nd 77) h yc ogit x i ty i rd eid . G a dne ' cons t tver po t n c r rs ula i e r i onduc i he rr or r e s Thec t i t tt La J e tngt i ec d evi w . our fnds ha he w udg r a ona yr i d ont s a s s e si det nni ng t t s A us i e a nss fci ntphysca a e s bl ele he e s es m nt n e ni ha M . tnr t i uf i e i l nd e otona ca ciy t pe f r a lm ie r nge of lg w or a tviy. Gi n D r Gar r s m i l pa t o r o m i td a i ht k ci t ve . dne ' ps hol c las es m e , t r or r vi w spe f m ed by t sa e a nc ps yc ogi a s s nt and he ec d e e r or he t t ge y ychol s s t ogi t , he c ta s be i ve t t he e i e de e t s our l o le s ha t r s vi nc o uppor t La J t he w udge' dec s on not o f l c e tt t s ii t uly r di ha po ton of pl i i fs t s i ony i w hi h s de crbe i a c t f r gul r a s t ne ri a ntf ' e tm n c he s i d nc pa iy or e a nd usai d e pl ym e a i t m o nt ctviy. I a fnni t Com m i s one ' fna de son,t c tdoe nots n f i ng he s i r s i l ci i he our s ugge tt tM s A us i s ha . tn i f ee of a lpa n,or t t s doe no e r e e de e s o a e y,pa c a t ks a m ood sr l i ha he s t xpe i nc pr s i n, nxi t ni tac , nd s i . l e t m edi alr c d co im st tpl i ifs f r f o s ve e ph i lpr e s w ngs nde d, he c e or nfr ha a ntf uf e s r m e r ysca obl m , as wel a bi a di or ra pe s na iy di or r ,whi h ca be e c ed t r ul i phys c l s pol r s de nd r o lt s de s c n xpe t o es t n i al lm ia i a i t tons ndw oni om ee otona m a f s a i ns How e r aso lne a s m i l ni e t to . ve , uti d bove, hec t le s t our be i ve t tt La J ha he w udgepr ry a co t d f pli ifsphysc dit uli i a s sngherr sdua ope l c un e or antf i al fk tes n s es i ei l f t onalcapaciy f w or M or unc i t or k. eover gi D r.G ar , ven dner' ps s ychol calass m ent,t court ogi ess he fndst t i hat here i evi s dence t s o uppor t noton t M s.A us i can per or si pl r i and t he i hat tn f m m e, outne, 6 r pe ii uns le wor t s whi h do no i ve pr duc i r quie nt or s t tal e ttve kild k a ks c t nvol o ton e r me s ubsan i i e a ton w ih o he pe e I m us be r ogni ed t tt i biiy t do w or wihouta y pai nt r c i t t r opl . t t ec z ha he na lt o k t n n o s b e tv ma ie tto d e no o i efrn e acama t oal d sb e Cri v Ch tr7 r u j cie nf sains o s t f t l e d r li n ttly ia ld. ac . ae,6 s F. 585,594- ( hCi.1 6) Onc a i i a ast t c tt tt Ad nitai La 3d 95 4t r 99 . e gan,t ppe r o he our ha he mi srtve w J d eg v ra o a ec n ieaint a1 f h s be tv fco ss p o tdb t eme ia r c r u g a e e s n bl o sd rto o lo t e u jcie a tr u p re y h dc le o d i aj dc tn p an ifscam f r n t .Asrg r sh rp y ia p o lms t ec t t le e n du iai g litf li o be eks e ad e h sc l r be ,h o l beiv s r t tt La J ha he w udge ga M s A us i t be ftof t doubt i tndi s ve e i pa r e s l ve . tn he ne i he n i ng e r m im nt . t f l st ta1 f ce s oft Co m i s one ' f na de s on a e s pore by s t nta evi nce olow ha l a t he m s i r s i l cii r up t d ubs a i l de . A s a ge r nze,r s uto ofconti t i t evi nce i a m a t rw ihi t pr nce of ne al l e ol i n l c s n he de s te t n he ovi al t Co mi so re n i t c t i r s vet c lc sdif r nty.Riha ds m v.Per es, he m s i ne ve f he our m ght e ol he onfit fe e l c r f - s a Oppe m v. nc 495F. 396( hCi. 974) Fort ras sae t c ti t upr ; nhei Fi h, 2d 4t r 1 . he e ons ttd,he our fnds he Com m i s one ' r ol i oft pe tne c lc s i t r c d i t s ca e t be s s i rs es uton he r i nt onfi t n he e or n hi s o uppore by td s t n i l vi nce A c or ngl t fna de i i n oft Com m i s one m us be a fr e La s ubs a t a e de . c di y, he i l c s o he s i r t f i m d. w v. lbrz e s r.Ana r p it j d me ta do d rwil ee tr dt i d y. Cee e z ,up a pp o rae u g n n r e lb nee h s a The C l r i diec e t s nd ce tte c esoft sopi on t al cou elofr cor ek s r td o e rii d opi hi ni o 1 ns e d. ENTER : Thi J%e s d yo uy 2014. a fl l, f Chi fUnie St t D i ti tJ e t d a es s r c udge 7

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