Sperry v. Colvin
Filing
16
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/18/2014. (ssm)
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BY'
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DEPUTY CL
ERM
ROBERT L.SPERRY,J ,
R.
Ci lAc i N o. 7: 4CV 00011
vi ton
1
Pl i if
a ntf ,
M EM O M N DU M O PI O N
NI
CA ROLY N W . LV I , ctng
CO
N A i
Comm isone ofSoc a Se iy,
si r
i l curt
By:
Hon.Gln E.Co a
e
nr d
Chi fUnied St t DititJ
e
t
aes src udge
D e e nt
f nda .
Pl ntf ha fl t sac i c l ngi t f na de i i n of he Co m i s one ofSoci l
ai i f s ied hi ton hale ng he i l c s o t
m si r
a
Se iy de ng pl i ifs c ai s f di a lt i ur nc be ft a s e e als urt
curt nyi
a ntf l m or s biiy ns a e ne is nd uppl m nt ec iy
i omebe ft unde t SocilSe urt Ac,a a nde 42U. C. 41 i a 423, nd42
nc
neis r he a c iy t s me d,
S. jj 6() nd
a
U. C.j 1 #1sp.r peci y.J idito oft sc tspurua t 42U. C.j405 g
S.
381 . ç ,es tvel urs cin hi our i s nt o
S.
()
a 42U. C. 1 c ( .Thi c t rviw i lmie t adee nai a t whet rt e
nd
S. j 383()3) s our' e e s i td o tnni ton s o
s
he her
i s t nta e de et s
s ubsa i l vi nc o uppor t Comm iso ' c l i t t antf f ie t e t bls
the
s i ners onc uson ha pli if al d o sa ih
e il me t beneksunde t Ac .l s hs t nta evi nc exit,hefnal ii oft
ntte nt o
f
r he t f uc ubsa il de e ss t i decson he
Commisone mus bea fr d. Lawsv.Cee e ze 368F. 640 ( h Ci.1 ) Sttd
si r t fime
lbr z ,
2d
4t r 966 . ae
brefy,s tntale de ehasbee defne ass h r e n e de e, i rngt r c d
i l ubsa i vi nc
n i d uc elva t vi nc consde i he e or
as a whol as m i t be f
e,
gh
ound a ua e t s
deq t o uppor a conc us on by a r s bl m i
t
l i
ea ona e nd.
Rihads v. rls 40 U. 38 401( 971 .
c r on Peae , 2 S. 9,
1 )
Thepl n if R o r L. r y, r , a bor o M a ch 2,1
ai t f , be t Spe r J .w s n n r
975, nd e ualy co pl t d
a vent l m e e
t t h gr i school M r.Spen' has been em pl
he ent ade n
.
y
oyed as a constucton w or
r i
ker.He l t
as
w or d on a r a a s t ned ba i i 2008. O n Fe ua y 4,201 M r Spe r fl
ke
egul r nd us ai
ss n
br r
0, . r y ied
applca i f di lt i tr
i t ons or sabiiy nslancebeneft and s em ent securt i
is
uppl
al
iy ncom ebenett Pl nt f
i s. ai i f
al ge ha hebe media edf ra1 f m sofs bsa i l i ul m pl
le dt t
ca
s bl o 1 or
u t nta ga nf e oyment
onNove be 20,
m r
2008,due t blndne si hi l teye a kne pr ems Att tm e oft admi sr tve
o i s n s ef
nd e obl .
he i
he
nita i
he rng, ai ifa e dhi a i ai s a r te ta aleg dia lt o e da eofM a 22,
a i pl ntf m nde s pplc ton o s el c n l ed s biiy ns t t
y
201 ( 69) Mr Spe now mai ai t thehasrmane dia e t t pr e tme.As
0. TR . . ny
nt ns ha
e i d s bld o he esnt i
t hi a ia i f diabiiyi ur nc be ft ,her c dr a st t a ntf m e t i u e
o s pplc ton or s lt ns a e ne is t e or eve l ha pli if t he ns r d
saus r quie e s of t Ac a al r l nt tm es c r by t fna de son of t
t t e r m nt
he t t 1 eeva i
ove ed
he i l cii
he
Commiso r Se u neal
sine . e e rlv,42U. C.jj41 i a 423( .
S.
6() nd a)
M r Spe r sa ia i we ede eduponi tal onsde atonandr onsder ton. He
. r y' pplc tons r ni
nii c i r i
ec i ai
t nrque t andr evedaX novohe rngandrviw befr a Admi srtveLa J e.
he e sed
ec i
ai
e e
oe n
nitai w udg
I a opi on dae Aug t7, 2,heLa J ealode e m i dt tpl i ifi notdia e
n n ni
td
us 201 t
w udg s t r ne ha antf s
s bld.
TheLa l ef undt t r Speny s f r fom s ve al e r i par nt ,ncudi biae al
w udg o
ha M .
ufe s r e r s ve e m ime s i l ng lt r
kneedior ; iy; ndoptcne opahyr s tngi l kofus f vii i t lf e (
s derobest a
i ur t euli n ac
eul son n he e t ye. TR
1 ) Be a s o te ep o lms teLa J d er ldta panifsds be f r i p s rlva t
6 . c u e fh s r b e ,h w u g ue h t litf i ia ld o h s a t ee n
w or a tviy as a c t uc i l bor r How e r t La J
k ci t
ons r ton a e .
ve , he w udge he d t tM r Spe r t ns
l ha
. ny e ai
s fc e f tonalc pa iy t e ge i a lm ie r nge ofs de a y wor a tviy. The La
ufi i nt unc i
a c t o nga n i t d a
e nt r
k ci t
w
J
udgec a t rze pl ntf sr i lf tonalc pact asf l :
har c e i d ai if esdua unc i
a iy olows
Afe c r u c i r i oft e ie r co d,t t r i ned tnds t tt
tr a ef l onsde aton
he ntr e r he mde sg
i
ha he
cl i a hast r i l unc i na ca c t t pe f m l s t n t f lr nge of
a m nt
he esdua f to l pa iy o r or e s ha he ul a
s ntr wokasdei i 20CFR 404.567()and41 9674 Thecl man
ede a y r
fned n
1 a
6. *.
ai t
c n pe f m s de a p lvellfi c nyi sa ng, nd waki butr uies
a ror e nt r e itng, a ng, t ndi a
l ng, eq r
a opporuniy t ha i pl ce pos to s fs a t a lt t r s t s andi
n
t t o ve n- a
ii n hi t nd he biiy o i e o t ng
f om a s a e pos ton t s a f ra f w m i e t oug tt da w hie a hi
r
e t d ii o t nd o e
nut s hr hou he y
l t s
wo k sa i Hei r src e fom kne i c i ng, ndcr wlng; ho da d
r tton. s e tit d r
elng, lmbi a
a i s ul voi
une nt r ai ca occ s onaly s oop orc ouc hasno us f l f e vi i but
ve e r n; n a i l t
r h;
e ul e t ye s on,
wih t us ofhi rg e ca avoi or nayha r i t wor a e( g.
t he e
s iht ye n d di r zads n he kplc e.
door aa,
s j rboxesontoo , ppr c ngpe eorve ce )hec nrador nap
l r a oa hi opl
hils; a e di r
szeprn -s tm e r quii t us ofc r c i lns t a ompls t s
i i t ome i s e rng he e ore tve e es o cc
ih hi;
he s d a d wor i diec s i hta a s a d m or dange ousha r
houl voi
k n r t unlg nd l o voi
e
r
za ds
i t wor a e, uc a unpr e t d he g sorda er usm a hi r
n he kpl c s h s
ot c e i ht
ng o
c ne y.
( 17 . Gi n s h a rsdua u tona c pact and a t c i rng pli ifs a
TR ) ve uc e i lf nci l a iy,
fer onsde i antf ge,
e aton,a prorwor e re e,aswe last si ony fom a voc tonale r,t Law
duc i nd i
k xpe inc
l
e tm
r
ai
xpe t he
J
udgede e ne M r Spe e nsc pa eofpe f mi s ver ls cik s dent
t nni d . nyr mai a bl
ror ng e a pe t e mywor ol
kr es
e si i sg fca ntmbe i t nai e onomy.Acc di y,heLa J euli t l
xitng n i nii nt l r n he tonal c
or ngl t
w udg tma ey
c l dedt tpl ntf i notdia e a t hei note il t be ft unde e t rf de al
onc u
ha ai if s
s bl d, nd hat s
ntted o ne is
r ihe e r
p o rm.S eg n rl 2 C. R. j4 4.5 0 a d41 9 0 g . Th La J d eso iin
r g a e e e al 0 F. j 0 1 2 1) n 6.2 ( ) e w u g ' pn o
y,
wa a ed a t fna de ii n oft Comm isone by t SocalSe urt Admi sr ton'
s dopt s he i l c so
he
s i r he i c iy
nita i s
Appe sCounci.Ha nge use al a l ea i sr tver
al
l vi xha td l vaiabl dm nita i emedis M r Spe r hasnow
e , . ry
appe l d t t s c t
a e o hi our .
W hie pl ntf ma be dia e f ce t n f m s ofe pl
l ai if y
s bld or rai or
m oymen ,t c ucalf t
t he r i acual
dee mi toni wheher antf i di a e f al o msofs t nta g nf l
tr na i s t pli if s s bld or lf r
ubsa il ai u empl ym e .See
o nt
42U. C. 423( ( and1 () Theeaef ee nt ofpr whihmus beco i rd
S. jj d)2)
382ca . r r our lme s oof c
t nsdee
i ma igs c a a ay i.Th s ee n saes mma ie a f l ws 1 o j cieme ia
n kn u h n n lss e e lme t r u rz d s ol :() b e tv d c l
o
f csa dci ia fndn s ( ) h o no sa dc n l ins te tngp ysca '3 s b e t e
a t n lnc li ig ;2 t e piin n o cuso ofrai h iins ( ) u jci
,
v
e de eof
vi nc physca m a f t tonsofi ime s a des lbe t o h ac am a 't tm on ,
i l niesa i
mpar nt , s ci d hr ug l i nts esi y'
a ( t cl ma 'e ton, atonalhit y,esduals ls a age Viekv. nc 438
nd 4) he ai nts ducai voc i
sor r i kil, nd . t Fi h,
F. 11 11 60( hCi.1 ) Unde woodv. biof,298F. 850,851( hCi.1 .
2d 57, 59- 4t r 971; r
Ri c f
2d
4t r 962)
Afe a r vi w oft r co d i t s c s ,t cou ti c tai d t concude t tt
tr e e
he e r n hi a e he r s onsr ne o
l
ha he
Comm isone ' fna de ii i s
s i rs i l c son s uppored by s t nta e de . M r Spe r e re s
t
ubsa i l vi nce
. ry xpe ince
s ve e kne pr ems wih a s alpe i r lt a oft pose i hor oft rghtmedi
e r
e obl , t
m l rphe a e r he t ror n
he i
al
me s us Hehasnous f lvii i hi l f e .A1 oft docor who ha pr de m e ca
nic .
e u son n s e t ye l he t s
ve ovi d di l
r pors i t s c e i c t t tpl i ifi c pa e ofpe f ng l s t n a f l r nge of
e t n hi as ndia e ha antf s a bl
ronni es ha
'l a
u
s de a y wor D r Er c Young c pl t d aco ula i exa i ton a r por a t be t
e nt r
k. . i ka
om e e
ns t tve m na i nd e t t he hes
of hesa edia lt a nc Dr Yo opi dt t a n ifc stf a oxi t yf hour
t tt s biiy ge y. . ung ne ha pli tf an i or ppr ma el our
s
i ar g a wo kd y a wela sa o wak fra p o i tl furh u s ( 33 ) Dr
n e ulr r a , s l s tnd r l o p r x maey o o r . TR 2 . .
Robe tB.St phe on,a boa d c rii orhopa di s g n,ofer d smia fndi a tr
r
e ns
r e tfed t e c ur eo
f e i lr i ngs fe
e ni Mr Spe ( 442- .Gi n s har sdua f tona c pact t vocai l
xnmi ng . ny. TR
43) ve uc e i l unci l a iy,he tona
e pete tfe ta h wa u a et ie tf a yj bf rM r S rylse i t eDito r o
x r tsiid h t e s n bl o d n iy n o o . per itd n h cinay f
Oc upaina Til , c us oft unus ls ibewee sti sa ng, nd/rwaki (
c to l tesbe a e he ua plt t n itng,tndi a o l ng. TR
66) Ho ve ,t Admi sr i La J
. we r he
nitatve w udger i on rporsfom t none mi ngsae
eled e t r wo
xn ni tt
a nc phys c ans D r J e Duckwal a Dr G ur ha a Si
ge y
i i , . os ph
l nd . c r n ngh,w ho opi t tpl i ifi
ned ha a ntf s
c pa eofsti up t sx hour i a ei a bl
itng o i
s n n ghthourwo k da a l ashe i pe mit d t sa
r y, s ong
s r te o t nd
a movea nec s ayt rle tg nes i hi kne s ( 91 347) he prs ntdwiht
nd
s e s r o eive iht s n s e . TR , .W n e e e t he
m or c m onpl c hypot tca e
e om
ae
he i l ncom pa s ng a tsts a opton,' t voc tona expe t
si
ti/ t nd
i ' he
ai l
r
ie tfe s v r l e e tr j b whc Mr S er c udb e pe tdt p ro ( 616 )
d n iid e ea s d n ay o s ih . p ry o l e x ce o ef nn. TR - 3 .
Thec tbele t tt Adm i sr tveLa J
our ives ha he
nitai
w udger s na y de e ne t f hi
ea o bl t nni d o as on
hi fndi a t pli tf sr i lf tona c pa t bas ont i fom t sa eage y
s i ngs s o a n if esdua unci l a ciy ed he nput r he t t
nc
phys ci ns W hiet co t ne r e esdif c t i f ndi s t nta e de t s
i a . l he ur ohe xpe i nc
fi uly n i ng ubs a i l vi nce o uppor
t
a La J d esrj ci n o ac n uttv su y i fv ro rp rsfo n n x mi n sae
w u g ' ee to f o s laie td n a o f e o t r m o e a nig tt
a nc phys c ans t c tdoe no be i ve t tt c ula i r por s i t i t nt c e
ge y
i i , he our
s t le ha he ons t tve e t n he ns a as
c l i l esabls t tpl i i fi una et pe f m s de a y w or w ih a st sand o i
onc us ve y t i h ha a ntf s bl o r or e nt r
k t i/ t
pton.
N e t rD r Y oung norDr St phe on e a ned why M r Spe r c d no obt n r le f om
ihe .
. e ns xpl i
. r y oul t ai e i f r
4
t sif s a pai ca e bypr o ed sti smpl by sa ngasne s my.l e Dr
he tfne s nd n us d
ol ng itng, i y t ndi
ce s
nde d, .
St phe on s c fc l not d t tpl i if c d sand t o/hr e ho lspe da i r i ofhi
e ns pe ii aly e ha a ntf oul t
w t e tr r y n elef
s
s o ( 442) a t hedoesd ni waki durngt da bec eofhi biatr
ymptms TR
, nd hat
ç mal l ng i he y aus
mi
s l eal
kne pai ' ( 443)
e n. TR
'
.
Stt d dif r ty,t m e ca r or i t sca e i c it twih t La J
a e fe en l he di l ec d n hi s s onssen t he w udges
'
fndi t t M r Spe c pe f m s de a y wor whih pe t a stsand o i n. A s
i ng ha
. ny an ror e nt r
k
c nnis i/t
pto
r c z d by t Com misone i he m e a
e ogni e
he
s i r n r mor ndum i s
n uppo tofhe moton f s ma y
r
r i or um r
j d me tgv nt er a laiywiht ecams dudc to rc s ,hesaea e c h sca s
u g n , ie h ifmiirt t h li a j iainp o e st tt g n yp y iin
co d be e c e t t de s a wha r s dua f tona ca ciy i nec s r f t
ul
xpe t d o m r t nd
t e i l unc i l pa t s
es a y or he
pe f m a eofs halm iedr ngeofs ntr wor a r lt t s r quie e st t a t l
ror nc
uc i t a
ede a y k, nd e ae he e e r m nt o he c ua
m e ca e de e i M r Spe r s c e. W he as d t c i r wha was a r s bl
di l vi nc n . ry' as
n ke o onsde
t
ea ona e
as e s ntofpli tf s r sdualf tona ca ciy,i lg ofpl ntf spa tc a medial
s s me
a n if e i
unc i l pa t n iht
ai if ri ul r
c
tndi ,hevoca i le t abl t i ntf s r ls cii wo k r e whih M r Spe
i ngs t
tona xper was e o de iy eve a pe fc r ol s c
. ny
c d be e c e t pe f m . l a a st t co tt tt voc tonale r ' e ua i of
oul
xpe t d o r or t ppe r o he ur ha he a i
xpe ts val ton
t voc tonal f c o s nd t a s
he
ai
a t r ,a he s umptons t
i
mder whih t e r dei r t d, a e bot
c he xpe t lbe a e r
h
r as bl a c it wih t e de ofr or I f l t tt Comm isone ' tna
e ona e nd onssent t he vi nce ec d. t olows ha he
s i rs i l
de son de ngM r Spe scam si s
cii
nyi
. ny' li s uppore by s tntale de e.
td
ubsa i vi nc
l afi ng Com m i s one ' t na de i i t c t
n fnni
s i r s i l c son, he our doesno s ges t tM r Speny i
t ug t ha
.
s
f ee ofal pa n,di c f t w ea
r
l i s om or , knes ,a f tgue. l d,t m edi alr cor co i m s t t
s nd a i
ndee he
c e d ntr ha
pli ifs f r fom a knee c ton whi h c n be e
antf ufe s r
ondii
c a
xpeced t r ul i pa n,s lng,a
t o es t n i weli nd
s if s M o eove , r Spe s f r f om l sof s on i hi l f e , hi h de i t l af e t
tf nes . r
r M . ny uf e s r os vi i n s e t ye w c fnie y f c s
hi c pac t f w or a tviy. H ow e r i m us be r ogni d t t i biiy t do wor
s a iy or
k ci t
ve , t
t ec ze hat he na lt o
k
wih u a y s j ciep o lmsd e n to is l rn e acama tttlyd sb e Cri v.
to t n ube tv r be o s o f tef e d r li n oal ia ld. az
Chae,76F.d 585,5 95 ( h Ci.1 .I lg oft ci c lindi i t spa tc a
tr
3
94- 4t r 996) n iht he lnia
ngs n hi riulr
ea e,i a a st t c t ha t Admi sr tveLa J
s t ppe r o he our t t he
nitai
w udgea
dequael c i e al oft
t y onsder d 1 he
s b e tv fco sra o a l s p o tdb teme ia rc r i a j diaigp an ifscams
u j cie a tr e s n by u p re y h dc l e o d n du c tn litf li
f be ft . l f l t a lf c t oft Com misone ' fnalde i i a e s
or ne is t olows hat l a e s he
s i rs i
c son r uppored b
t y
s t i e de e.
ubsantal vi nc
Asage r nze r s uton ofc lc si t e de e i amaterwihi t pr vi e
ne al l , e ol i
ontit n he vi nc s
t
t n he o nc
oft Comm iso re n i t c tm i r s ve t c lc sdif r nty. Ri ha ds v.
he
s i ne ve f he our ght e ol he onfi t fe e l
c r on
Peals s a;Oppenhem v. nc 495F. 396( h Ci.1 .Fort ras sae t
r e , upr
i Fi h,
2d
4t r 974)
he e ons ttd, he
cour fndst Comm isone ' r ol ton oft pe tne c lc si t r c d i t sc et
t i he
s i rs es u i
he ri nt ontit n he e or n hi as o
bes ppore bys t i e de .Ac di y,hefnal cii oft Comm isone mus
u
td ubsantal vi nce cor ngl t i de son he
si r t
b a fr d.La v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o rae u g n a o d rwi b e trdt i
e fime
ws Cee rz e s p a
p r p it j d me t nd r e l e n ee h s
l
da
y.
TheCl r i die t t s nd c ris d c esoft so ni t a lc
e k s r ced o e e tte opi
hi pi on o 1 ouns ofr co d.
el e r
DATED:Thi i
s G
d yo No e e , 2014.
a f v mb r
Chi fU nie St t s D it i tJ
e
t d a e s rc udge
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