Little v. Colvin

Filing 26

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 3/31/16. (eot)

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CL S OFFI U S DI . ERK' CE ST COUR: , x m j kv y x jA FI LED l TT UNI x m TED STATES Dl r c' COURT srm r FORTT wES m TERN Dl w c' oyVI NI sl r RGI A Rowxoxs or sl vl ox MA2 3 12 1 26 J u BY: J O B. LI TTLE, Plitfl anil v. CAROLYN W . COLVI Aci g N, sn Co sin ro S ca S c rt, mmiso e f o il e u i y Dee d n . fn a t ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) o l cu uas ' l v CiiAcinNo 7:4CV0 4 4 vl to . 1 04 M EM O UM OPI ON NI By: Ho GlnE. n a n. e Co r d Che Unt dS ae Ditit ud e if ie tts src J g Thepl i if J XnneB. tl hasfl d t saci n c le ng c ran pr sonsoft antf, o Lite, ie hi to hal ngi e ti ovi i he fnaldç ii n o t Comm isone ofSocalSe urt de yi pli tf sa i ai f i c so f he si r i c iy n ng a n if pplc ton or d sb l yi ma eb n f t e teS ca S cliyAc, sn nd d 4 U. C. ç41 ()a d ia ii ns nc e eks md r h o il e t t t a me e , 2 S. j 6 i n t r 423. Pli ifa s c le st esa ihm e ofape i ofdia lt f pu pos sofhe antf l o ha lnge he t bls nt rod s biiy or r e r a ia i f s e e als c iyi omebe st asofDe mbe 7,201 r t rt n on pplc ton or upplm nt e urt nc ne s ce r 2, ahe ha Ocobe 1 2009,asale by pl i ifi he a i ai n f rbe ft . See ge , U . C. t r 5, lged antf n r pplc to o ne is , n.42 S. j1 81# sg.J rs ito o t i c u tse tb ih dp ru n t 4 U.. j4 ()a j4 3 . e u id cin f hs o r i sa ls e u s a t o 2 SC. 05g nd 2 1 U. C. 1 8 ()3 . S. j 3 3 c () By o de e e e Se e be 3,201 t c tr f r e t sca et aUried St t r r ntr d ptm r 4, he our e e r d hi s o lt aes M a ikaeJ d ep ru n t 2 U.. j6 6 b ( )B) OnFe rlr 1 , 01 ,hema itae gs t u g u s a t o 8 SC. 3 ( )1( . bt y 6 2 6 t a gsrt j g s b te arp r i whihh r c mme d t a t eCo s in rsfn ld cso be ud e u mitd e o tn c e e o n s h t h mmiso e ' i a e iin a fr di al ep cs Plitf ha fldo j ci n t t ema itaej d esrp r. f me n lr s e t. an if s ie b e to s o h g srt u g ' e o t M r . tl wasbom on De e r28,1 s Lite c mbe 958,a e nt ly c nd ve ua l omplt d he li h s hool e e r tg c ed a i Pl i ifhasbe n e o asa ntri as it nt hous kee r pr uci n lne uc ton. antf e mpl yed lsng ssa , e pe , od to i wor r a nur e' a de Appa e l M r . tl l s wo ke on ar a a s t ne bassi ke , nd s s i . r nty, s Lite a t r d egulr nd usai d i n '' . 2009, houg i s m st ts e ge i s r i wor a tviyt r fe .TheAd i sr tve t h t ee ha he nga d n po ad c k c i t he ea tr m nitai La J w udgef up. t tpli tf' wo k a trhe al ge dia lt ons tda ewa no s t nta o d ha a n ifs r fe r le d s biiy e t s t ubsa il g i n a tvt .( 1 - 5 . anfl ciiy TR 4 1 ) I Jmeof201 M r . t fl d a i a i f rdia lt i m a ebe tt a nt 0, s Lide ie pplc tons o s biiy ns nc neis nd s e e a s cliy i om ebe ft .Sheal ge t ts bec m edia e f a 1f upplm nt l e trt nc ne s le d ha he n s bl d or 1 onnsof s tntalganfl e o e on Ocober1 2009,d t c ozi obsnztvepul onay ubsa i i t mpl ym nt l t , ue o hr lc t c i m t die e;hi bl pr s r ba k pr e s me a pr e ;fbr s as gh ood es u e; c oblm ; nt l obl ms i omya gi irt bl bo e l a; ria e w l s n r me e h s ma n r e ; n ia he rngl s ; n po rvso ( 2 0 . S n w y d o ; mp y e ; e v s a gn ; ai o s a d o iin. TR 5 ) he o mant i t ts hasr m ane dia e t t pr s n tme.Ast he a i a i f dia lt i ans ha he e i d s bl d o he e e t i o r pplc ton or s biiy i tr nc be ft ,her co dr ve l t tM z .Litem e t i tr d sa r quie e soft nsla e ne is t e r e a s ha s tl t he nsle t ms e r m nt he Ac tr ug t ef u t q a tro 2 0 b t t h r atr S e g n,4 U. C. j41 ()a d th o h h o rh u re f 01 , u no t ee fe . e , e . 2 S. j 6 i n 4 3 a .Ac o dn l M r. tl i e tte t ds blt i t a c b n ft o l i s eh s 2 () c r igy, s Lit s n ild o ia ii nsl n e e e s ny f h a e y r esa ihe t s be me diabld f a1 f m sofs t nta g nf le o e o orbe or t bls d hat he cn s e or 1 or ubsa i l ai ' mpl ym nt n u f e De e e 31 2 0.Se 4 U. C. 42 () c mb r , 01 e 2 S. j 3a . Pli i sa ia i we ede e upon i talc i r to a r co i r ton. She , antY pplc tons r ni d nii onsde a i n nd e nsde a i t nr quet a rc ve aéçno he rngandrviw beor a Ad nitai La J he e sed nd e ei d vo ai e e f e n mi srtve w udge. l a opi o daedAprl5,201 t La J n n ni n t i 3, he w udger l dt tM r . tl bec me dia e f a 1 u e ha s Lite n s bld or 1 f r o s bsa ta g i fle o me to De e e 7 201 ( 21 .I mn n t s o ms f u tnil an l mply n n c mb r , 2. TR ) n kig hi l de e mi to t La J t r nai n, he w udgee i ty r i o ac ula i e m i ton a r por xplcil eled n ons ttve xa na i nd e t c mpee b Dr W i im Hl hre .( 2 ) Th r c r rve l t t . l h isfrt o ltd y . l n l is TR 2 . e e o d e as ha Dr Hl re is l mp mp e mi d M r . tl on De e be 7,201 t s m eda esa ihe by t La J xn ne s Lite cm r 2, he n y tbls d he w udgeas p an ifsd t o ds bl yo st ( 8 5 .TheLa J g itmrtdame ia s u c litf ae f ia ii n e. TR 5 ) t w ud e n e ee dc l o re 2 sa e ntpr vi d byDr Hlmphre a i c tveofr sdua fm di lc pact f l st n a t t me o de . l is s ndi ai e i l t ona a iy or es ha f l r ngeofs ntr wor a tviy.TheLa J ul a ede a y k c i t w udger c ni t t g ve pl i i sa , e og zed ha , i n antY ge ed ai n,a prorwor a tviy,a as lmi ar sdualfmci lc pact f no m or t1 uc to nd i k ci t nd sl ng e i t tona a iy or e 1= s de a y e ri M r . tl i dia e f a 1f r so r gua wor aci t bas bot on t e nt r xe ton, s Lite s s bl d or l o m f e lr k tviy, ed h he ' a i nd pplc ton he t si on oft voc tona e r a t a ilsr tvehe rng, a a i a i oft medial e tm y he a i l xpe t' he dm rita i t c voc tona gu dei ss tf t l rAppe x 2 t Subpa tP oft Adm i sr tveReg a i ai l i lne e orh mde ndi o r he nita i ultons PM 4 4 ( 2 - 4 .Ho ve, st t d yp irt Dr Hu hre ' dc l x miain a 0 . TR 3 2 ) we r a o he a ro o . mp is me ia e a n to , nd a t a 1r l va tm e prort r t t La J s o 1 e e nt i s i he e o, he w udger l d t tM r . tl r m ai d ca bl of u e ha s Lite e ne pa e pe f mi alm ie r ngeoflg wor a viy.Gi n t t tm o oft vocai le r, ror ng i t d a iht k di t ve he esi ny he tona xpe t a a trc i rngpli i sa ed a in,a prorwor e de ,t La J nd fe onsde i antY ge, uc to nd i k xpe nce he w udgef ound t tpli ifr t i d s c e fmc i lc pact t pe f r s ve als cii lghtwor r e ha a ntf e ane ux i nt l tona a iy o r o m e r pe fc i k ol s e si i sgnika nt be i t na i le onomy,a a1r lva tm e on a bef r xitng n i l nt l r n he tona c m t 1 ee nt i s nd o e De e e 6 2 2 ( 1 , 3 . c mb r , 01 . TR 6 2 ) . I t nnsofpl i ifsc = e a i ai nsf be ft,t La J n e antf onc nt pplc to or ne is he w udgeuli t l tma ey c ude t tM r . tl bec m edia edf ra1f oncl d ha s Lite n s bl o 1 onnsofs t ntalganfl e oyme f ubsa i i ll mpl nt or pu pos sofhe a ia i f s pplm e a s c iyi omebe f a ofDec mbe 7, 2. r e r pplc ton or u e ntl e urt nc ne ks s e r 201 Howeve ,ba e on hi fndi o r sd lG nc i c pact f a lp ie r ng oflg wo k r sd s i ng f e i ua tonal a iy or i t d a e i ht r r e a a 1r l va tm e o a be or De e be 6, 2,t La J ol s t l e e nt i s n nd f e c m r 201 he w udgec l oncudedt tM r . ha s Lidewa no e il dt s e e als ctiy i ome be ft d i t se dirpe i a t s t ntte o upplm nt e trt nc ne is urng hi a e rod, nd t ts i note il t dia lt i ur ncebe ft ,i muc ass hasf iedt e t ih ha he s ntted o s biiy ns a ne is nas h he a l o sabls d s bl yo e o o b f r De e e 31 201 ,hels d yo wh c s esile j y di u e ia it nst n r eo e c mb r , 0 t a t a n ih h tl no e ns r d i sau .Se 2 C. R. 4 4 1 2 ()a d41 .2 () Th La J d eso ii nwa a o e a tts e 0 F. j 0 .5 0 g n 69 0 g . e w u g ' pn o s d ptd s 3 l 1 t fna decson oft Comm iso rbyt SocalSe urt A d i sr to sAppe sCouncl he i l ii he s i ne he i c iy m i tai n' al i. Ha ng e use a la ia ead ilsrtver medis M r . tl hasnow a vi xha t d l va lbl m ritai e e , s Lite ppeaedt t s l o hi court . On a al pl ntf as ss ve a a pl nt .M r .Litecontndst tt ppe , ai ifr ie e r l r me s s tl e ha he Admi sr tveLa J nita i w udgei pr ry dic e am e c s c sae e fom ate tng m ope l s ount d dial our e tt m nt r rai physc a a ssa ,ndia i t tpl i ifwasdia e f a 1f m sofwor asea m J y ii ns s it nt i c tng ha antf s bld or l or k dy s ul 1 , 0 8 ( 8 - 4 .P an ifas man ansta i f nn aigh poh tc l u sinsf r 5 2 0 . TR 212 ) litf lo iti h t n o ultn y t eia q e to o t vocai na e r,t Ad i sr tveLa J he to l xpe t he m nitai w udge f ie t pr ry a co f fndi of al d o ope l c unt or i ngs mode a edit uly i mai ai ng co e r ton, r it e, pac ass tf rh i ame a r t fk t n nt ni nc nta i pe ssenc or e e o t n nt l h at e au to b asaea e c p y h lgs.( 1 425 .M r . tl as a srst a t e e l v lain y tt g n y s c oo it TR 2 - ) s Lite lo se t h t h h Admi srtveLa J nitai w udgef ie t pr ry c e the 1y t si onyast t e entofhe a ld o ope l r di r a e tm o he xt r physd ld s o f t nd de lttng s i a i c m or a biia i ympt s Howe r pl n i spdma y c e i on om . ve , aitc r ont nton a ppea i t tt Adm i sr tve La J ge f ie t ofe a e a to wha s ve f t l s ha he nita i w ud al d o f r ny xplna i n t oe r or he f ngt tM r .Lite s zl be n ei pa eofm or t n almie r mdi ha s tl uddely c m nca bl e ha i t d angeofs de a y e nt r e to on De mbe 7, 2, t ts r ti d s sc e f nc i lc pa iy f lgh xeri n ce r 201 but ha he ea ne uf i nt u tona a c t or i t e ri n a a 1r l va tm e o a be or De embe 6, 2. xe to t 1 e e nt i s n nd f e c r 201 Thec tbe ive t talo pl i ifsc e i hol a gua em e i. The c t our le s ha 1 f antf ' ontntons d r bl rt our co l ,howe r t ti i be ncudes ve , ha t s yond q si t tt La J ue ton ha he w udgef ie t ct a evi nc f a ld o ie ny de e or t r m a ka epr poston t tM r .Liteco d do lg wo k o a be or Dec mbe 6,201 he e r bl o ii ha s tl ul i ht r n nd f e e r 2, butt ts s rl be n elmie t a hi mor t n ar tit d r nge ofs de a ywor ha he uddely c m i t d o nyt ng e ha esrc e a e nt r k ! he r ha he s xa ned . a tviy on t ve ydayt ts wa e m i by Dr Hlmpl es The c t i G ci t z ui . our fnds t good c e' aus ' f rr ma oft sca et t Comm iso rf f rhe c nsde a i oft is ofdia lt o e nd hi s o he s i ne or u t r o i r ton he s ue s biiy 4 ons t i a mn rc it ntwih t nze e t bls d b t Unie St t sCo tofAppe l f r e, n nne onsse t he l s sa ihe y he t d a e ur as o J t Fouth Cic t he ' r ui. t . Aspr vi l no e on Se embe 3, 4,hec t e e r d t sc et am a sr t e ousy t d, pt r 201 t our r f re hi as o gita e j g frar p r s tigf rh fn ig o fc, o cu inso lw, n arc mme d d ud e o e o t et o t i dn s f a t c n lso f a a d e o n e n d s osto Th ma itaej d efldarpo t nFe nlr 1 , 1 .Asrg r st is eo ip iin. e g sr t u g ie e r o b ay 6 20 6 e a d he su f ds blt o st t ma itaej d ec mme tda f lo : . ia i y n e,he gsrt u g o n e s olws i The ei ampl media e de et s r s e c l vi nc o uppor t ALJ Sc uson t tLitewas t he ' oncl i ha tl c pa eofpe l mi ar ngeoflghtwo kprort De embe 7,201 a t t a bl rbr ng a i r i o c r 2, nd ha Litewaslmie t pe l ngar ngeofs ntr wor a trt tda e. tl i t d o rbnni a ede a y k fe ha t The ALJdi notG r ta iy's l ta o e dae;i t d,heco i r d a1 oft d t bir rl ' eec n ns t t nsea a nsde e 1 he e d nc ofr co dbe or s l tng adaet tha as t i ntm e ca ba i, vi e e e r f e eeci t ha d ufk e di l ss ba e upon Dr Hlmpl es r por. sd . l ui ' e tThus t si no ac ewhe et ALJ ,hi s t as r he abtai c s ads b l yo s t aewi noe pa to (iaino te ) r irrl ho e ia ii n e d t t y t h x lnain. ctto mitd . ( p r a 1 ) Th dfiul i t ma itaej d espo iin i t a t ee d nc d veo e Re o t t 0 . e ifc t n he g srt u g ' sto s h t h vie e e lp d y du i t pe i pro t Dec mbe 7,201 i i s t nta co lct W ihoutgoi i t a rng he rod i r o e r 2, s n ubsa il nfi . t ng n o ny p e tdeai a t spoi ,t c tnot st tDr Hlm phdes fmc i a s s m e , lc t a t l t hi nt he our e ha . l ' l tonal s e s nt wli h he La J d ea c r e G ra weg t ( 2 ) co eyr smb e t ee rira s sme t yBeha y w u g c o d d t e t ih ' TR 2 , l s l e e ls h a le se s n b t n g ' Borng,heph i insas it nt whi h t La J i t ysca ssa , c he w udgedee m i d t bewo hy ofG itewe ght' t r ne o rt t tl i ' l a dû n u p re b t eme ia e i e c o r c r a awhoe' ( 2 ) l a ye e t i n t s p o td y h dc l v d n e f e o d s u l . TR 0 . n n v n ,t ' s e t t ec u th ttema itaej g ha r a moeit t La J d e so i o ta c q e ms o h o r t a h g srt ud e s e d r no he w u g ' pnin h n a a ly bef md. St t d smpl t Adm i sr tve La J ge ct d no e de ,medial cma l ot a e i y, he nita i w ud ie vi nce c opi on,orr as ng wha s ve i s ni e oni toe r n uppo toft no i t M r . tl coul do lghtwor on r he ton hat s Lite d i k De m be 6 201 butha be om edia e f a hi m or t n almie r ngeofs de a y ce r , 2, d c s bl d or nyt ng e ha i t d a e nt r wor byt tm e s wass e by Dr Hlmplre t f l ng da k he i he en . l ti s he olowi y. ' . 5 ' . TheUried St t Cour ofAppe sf t Fourh Cic ta e s d a sm ia is i lt aes t al or he t r ui ddr s e i lr s ue n Balyv. tr 6 F.d7 ( t Ci. 9 5 .l Baly teFo rh Cic titr rtd S ca ie Chae , 8 3 5 4h r 1 9 ) n i ,h u t rui n ep ee o il e Sec y Rulng 83- s ast c l t t i t e de eofdia lt ons ti nmbi us t udt i 20 o o oncude ha , f he vi nc s biiy e s guo , he Comm iso s ul r c veas itnc 9om am e c lad s ri or rt pr ry a s sa s i ner ho d e ei ssa e di a vio n de o ope l s es nd de e mi t da eofdia lt o e . TheFou h Cic tr as d t ta Adm i sr tveLa t r ne he t s biiy ns t rt r ui e one ha n nita i w J udgedoe notpos e st dic e i ne s my t e t bls adia lt ons tda ewihout s s s he s r ton ce s o sa ih s biiy e t t s tnta evi ncei t f m ofs meme c opi ono t tmony.L a 79- Sttd ubsa il de n he or o dial ni r esi 4. t 80. ae dif r nty, m e c ls cei be trpl e t e gei s h ç fe e l a di a our s te ac d o nga n uc t a e gu s r 't n i t educ t d es wo k' ha s he Admi sr tveLa J nita i w udge.TheBal y Co twe on t e a n a f l w s ie ur nt o xpli s olo : Ther quie e t t i a 1butt m os pl i c e , me c la s rbe e r m nt ha , n 1 he t an as s a di a dvi o cons t d pro t i e rng a ons tda ei me ey ava to on t m os ule i r o nf ri n e t s r l dai n he t pe va i t m ei a nita i l r sve he n dmi sr tve aw- t ts t ntale de e s ha ubsa i vi nc uppor a tn a e ysd cso .Se Pla a tValyHo p.nc v S ll 3 F.d6 , 0 (t g nc ' e iins e e sn le s .I . . haaa 2 3 7 7 4 h Ci.9 4 ( eS c eays( w Co s in r ld cso s o l b afr d r1 9 ) G Th e r tr ' no mmiso e ' e iin h ud e fime s whe es r upporedby s t nta e de a nota birr ca i ous o t ubsa il vi nce nd r ta y, prci , r o h r s c nrr t lw.)(n en lq tto maks el e , ndctto t ewie o ta y o a ' itr a uoai n r , li s a iain ' ps Afe aA novorviw oft rcod,hec ti c tane t co l t tc ranof tr e e he e r t our s onsri d o ncude ha e ti p an ifso j cinst t ema itaej d esrp r mus bes ti d Th c u t st bet litf b e to o h gsrt u g ' e o t t usane . e o r i ma l o dice a r a on f t La J et c l t tM r . tl be nme d s bl d on De e r s m ny e s or he w udg o oncude ha s Lite c ia e c mbe 7, 2, no e rir Ac r ngl t c ur fndsG 201 and t a le . co di y, he o t i & good c us 'f r m a oft sc et t a e' or e nd hi as o he Co sin rf rf rh rd v lp n a dc n ie aina stf rha ve Se 4 U.. j mmiso e o u te e eo me t n o sd rto s e o t bo . e 2 SC. 40 () I teCo sine i t bet d cd ti c s i p an ifsfv ro t eb sso t 5 g . f h mmiso r s ma l o e i e h s a e n litf' a o n h a i f he e si r c d,a s e e e by i xitng e or s upplm ntd nputfo amediala s , heCom misone wil rm c dvior t si r l 6 c onduc a s e e a ad i sr tvehe rng a whih bo h sdeswilbealowedt pr s nt t upplm nt l m nitai ai t c t i l l o ee a tona e de a a pl e t ddii l vi nce nd r m n .An a opra eor rofr m a wilbe e e e t sday. ppr it de e nd l ntr d hi TheClr i die t d t s nd c rii d co e oft sopilon t a1 c ms lo r or e k s r c e o e e tfe pi s hi ri o 1 ot e f ec d. ? y r rh, 01 . oATSD:Thi 5id da o M a c 2 6 s / Chi Uit d Stt sDititJ e e a e src udge

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