Ollie v. Colvin

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 07/17/2015. (bw)

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CE S. SX
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I THE UN I
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ROANOKE DI SI
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JUL l? 2 1
25
JULW C.
BK
DE

,
CLERK
L

K AREN L.OLLI
E,

Ci lA c i N o. 7: 4CV 00582
vi ton
1
Pl ntf ,
ai i f
M EM O M N D UM O PI I N
N O
CA ROLY N W . LV I ,A c i
CO
N
tng
Com m i s one of Soc alSe urt
si r
i
c iy,

By:

Hon. l n E.
Ge
Conr d
a
Chi fU nie St t s Di t i tJ e
e
t d a e s rc udg

Dee
f ndan .
t
Pl ntf ha fl t sa ton c le ng t fna dec son oft Com m i s one o Soc a
ai i f s ied hi c i ha l ngi he i l i i
he
si r f il

Se trt de ng pl ntf scl m f ape i ofdia lt a di a lt i ur nc be ksunde
c liy nyi ai if ai or rod
s biiy nd s biiy ns a e net
r

t SocalSe urt Ac,a n nde 42U. C.jj41 i a 423.J iditonoft sc ti
he i c iy t s me d,
S.
6() nd
urs ci
hi our s

pzs a t o j2 5 g o t eAc, 2U. C. 4 5 g .Th sc u t rviw i lmie t a
t u n t 0 ( ) f h t4 S. j 0 ( ) i o r' e e s i td o
r
s
de e mi ton ast whehert r i s tntale de et s
t r na i
o
t he e s ubsa i vi nc o uppo t he Co mi soners
rt
m si '
co us on t pl i iff ie t m e tt r r m e s f e il m e t be ksunde t A c .
ncl i hat a ntf a l d o e he equie nt or ntte nt o net
r he t
l s h s t n i le de e e s s t fna de i i n oft Com m i s one m us be afi m e
f uc ubs a t a vi nc xi t , he i l c s o
he
si r
t
f r d.

La v.Cee e ze 368F. 640(t Ci.1 .Sttdbrefy,s t ta e de ha be n
ws
lbrz ,
2d
4h r 966) ae i l ubsnnil vi nce s e
de i d a s h r lva evi nce c i rngt r or a awhol asm i be f und a qua e
fne s uc ee nt de , onsde i he ec d s
e,
ght o
de t

ts
o uppor ac l i b ar a ona emi Rihads v.Peae , 2U. 38 401( 971 .
t oncuson y e s bl nd. c r on
rls 40 S. 9,
1 )
The pl i if K a e L.Oli wasbor on O c obe 5,1
a ntf , r n
le,
n
t r 953, e nt ly c pl t her
and ve ua l om e ed
hi h s hoole a i M s Oli a s a t nded colege f rt y r . Pl i ifhasw or d a a
g c
duc ton. . le l o te
l
o wo ea s a ntf
ke s

r e i nit pha ma y cer c t
ec pto s, r c l k, usomers r i er pr s nttve, wa e
e v c e e e a i and r hous c e k. M s Oli
e lr
. le
l s wor o a r gul a s t i ba i i 2009,t
a t ked n e ar nd us a ned s s n
hough s w a s ilw o ki a a
he s tl r ng s

r e initonapa ttmebassa t tmeoft a nitai he rngonJ 24,201 (
ec pto s
r-i
i t he i
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une
3. TR

30) OnJ nuar 25,2011, s Oli fl a a iai f ape i ofdia lt anddia lt
. a y
M . le ied n pplc ton or rod s biiy
sbiiy
i ur nc be ft .Pl i ifa lge t ts bec m edia e f ra1f msofs t i lganf
ns a e ne is antf le d ha he a
s bl d o 1 or
ubsanta i ul
e o e o J ua y 1 2010,d t se p a a,s i r ,hi h bl pr s tr ,a tui
mplym nt n an r 4,
ue o le pne e zu es g ood e sle nd l d
r t nto i he l gsa bod M s Oli now m ant i t ts ha r m aned dia ed t t
e e in n r e nd y. . le
i ans ha he s e i
s bl o he
pr s nttm e Ther c d r veast tpli ifm e t i ur d sat r quie e so t Ac a a 1
ee i .
e or e l ha a ntf t he ns e t us e r m nt f he t t 1

rlva tme c rd b t fna de iin oft Commisone .Se g neal 42U. C.jj
ee nt i s ovee y he l cso
he
s i r e e rly
S.

41 i a 423()
6() nd a.
M s Oli sa i a i n w asde e upon i talc i r i and r c i r ton. She
. le' pplc t o
ni d
nii ons de aton
e ons de a i

t nr que t a rc ve ad novohe rnga rviw befr a Admi srtveLa J
he e sed nd e ei d
a i nd e e
oe n
nitai w udge.
I a opi on da e Se e be 1 201 t La J
n n ni
t d pt m r 9, 3, he w udge as de em i t tM s Oli i not
lo t r ned ha
. le s
di a e The La J e f m d t tpl i tf s f r fom s ve a s r i paim e s i l ng
s bl d.
w udg ot ha a n if uf e s '
r
e r l eve e m r nt , nc udi

d g n rt d s d s a e d g neaiej it ie s o t ek e s n ke , a s a dfe; le
e e e ai ic ie s ; e e rtv on d s a e f h n e , n ls h nd , n e t se p
ve
a a's i e a i t i r m i s on w ih m e ca i n;hy re i obe iy; oni o t uc i
pne , e zur ctviy n e s i
t
di to
pe t nson; s t chr c bs r tve

pul ona y die e; ps ra i. De pie s h physc pr e s t Law J
m r s as and o i ss
s t uc
ial oblm , he
udger l d t tM s
u e ha .
Oli r t i s t e r i ua f nc i lc pact f almie r ng ofs de a ywor The
le e ans ufki nt esd l u tona a iy or i td a e e nt r
k.
La J e a s s ed pl i if sr s dualf to lca c t a f l s:
w udg s e s
a ntf e i
unc i na pa iy s olow
A fe ca e ulcons de a i oft e tr r c d, fnd t tt c ai a hast
tr r f
i r ton he n ie e or 1 i ha he l m nt
he
r s dua fm c i lc pa t t pe f r s de a y w or a de i i 20 C . R .
e i l t tona a ciy o r o m e nt r
k s fned n
F.

404.
4567*)e ptt cama c dlf a orcar 20poundsocc sonaly
xce he li nt oul it nd/ ry
ai l
a 1 pot fe nty. She c d st6 hotr i a 8 hotrwor yand
nd 0 mds r que l
oul i
ls n n - l
kda
sa wal 4 hour i a 8 hotrwor y. Shecoul occ sonaly us biae a
t nd/ k
sn n - z
kda
d a i l e l tr l
f co r s a oc s ona l ba a e,soop,a knee . She coul ne c a l
oot nt ol nd ca i ly l nc t
nd
l
d ver r w
orc i l dde s r s ors fol . Shes ul notbeexpos d t e r m ec d,
lmb a r , ope , ca f ds
ho d
e o xte
ol
he t hum i t orw e nes . She c d occ i ly be e
a,
diy,
t s
oul
asona l
xpos t he g s a
ed o i ht nd
equi ent
pm .

( 1 . Gi n s h arsdua fncina ca ciy,a a trc i rngpli ifsage
TR 6) ve uc e i l u to l pa t nd fe onsde i antf
,
e
ducai n, prorwor e re e,a wel ast si
to and i
k xpe inc s l e tmony fom avoc tona e r,t La
r
a i l xpe t he w
2

J
udgede e mi d t tM s Oli r t i s t intf nc i c pa iyt r t n t he pas
t r ne ha
. le e ans ufk e u tonal a ct o eur o r t
r e ntwo k r e a ac t e s r cer pr e ai a r ce to s. Rel ng on t
elva
r ols s usom r e vi e es nt tve nd e p i nit
yi
he
t si o o t voc to e r,t La J ge as f
e tm ny f he a i nal xpe t he w ud lo ound t tpl ntf r ti s fce
ha ai if ea ns ufi int
fmcto ca ct t e
t i nal pa iy o ngagei s ve a ot rs nt r wo k r e e si i sgnii an numbe
n e r l he ede a y r ol s xitng n i fc t
r

i t nai na ec no y. Ac or ngl t La J
n he to l o m
c di y, he w udgec l d t tM s Oli i no dia e
onc ude ha
. le s t s bl d,
a t ts i note ild t ape i ofd s biiy ordia lt i ur ebe ft .Se Me r ly,
nd ha he s
ntte o
rod i a lt
s biiy ns anc ne is e ne a l

20C. R.j404.5 9 a ( .TheLa J
F.
1 20( nd g)
w udge' opi onwa a pt m t fna de ii of
s ni
s do ed s he i l cson
t Com m i s one by t Soci lSec liy A dm i s r ton' A ppea s Cot c l H a ng e us e
he
s i r he
a
trt
nit a i s
l
m i . vi xha t d

a1a ia e a nita i r di s M s Oli hasnow a ald t t sc t
1 val bl dmi sr tve eme e , . le
ppe e o hi our.
A fera r vi w oft r cor i t s c s ,t c ti c tai t c ude t tt
t
e e
he e d n hi a e he our s onsr ned o oncl ha he
Com m i sone ' f na dec s o i s
s i r s i l i i n s uppored by s t nta e de e. M s Oli s f r f om a
t
ubs a i l vi nc
. le uf e s r

va it ofphysca pr e ,i udi m id t m ode a ese p a a, e e m a,
re y
i l obl ms ncl ng l o
r t le pne 1 g de dege r tve
ne a i

ds a ep o e si h rb c a dj it, ndmo eaec r n co sr ciep l n r d s ae He
ie s r c s n e a k n on s a
d rt h o i b tu tv umo ay ie s . r
pr bl m sa e s m i y a s a e w ih, nd m a t e by,o s t Pl i ifa s has a hi t y of
o e
r ee ngl s oci t d t a
gnii d
be iy. a ntf l o
s or

s zze dio de ,hy tnson, dibe esmeliusTy 2,t
eitr s r r pere i and a t
lt
pe hough t s c tonsa
he e ondii
ppea t
ro

bes b e tt ra o a eme ia c n r lh o g me iai n F rt mos p r M s Oli ha
u j c o e s n bl dc l o to tr u h dc to . o he t a q . l s
e
r e ve c e v tve t e t e f he phys c ldi c f t Bas d o t clni a not oft
ec i d ons r a i r a m nt or r
i a s om or . e n he i c l es he
phys ci ns who ha t e t pl i if sm us ul kel t lpr em s t co tbe i vest tt La
ia
ve r a ed a ntf
c os e a obl , he ur le
ha he w

J
udger s bl c ude t tM s Oli i lm ie t t pe f ma ofs de a y a tvii .
ea ona y oncl d ha . le s i t d o he ror nce e nt r c i tes
M or ve , hecou tfndst tt Adm i sr tveLa J
eo r t
r i ha he
nitai
w udger s bl r le on a c ulai
ea ona y e id
ons ttve
reportf om D r.W ilam H .H um phr es,J ,i concl ng t pl nt f r ai s t i
r
li
i r. n
udi hat ai if et ns ufk ent

f nc i nalca ciy t r t n t s ve alofhe pas w or r es hie t A dm i s r tve La
u to
pa t o e ur o e r
r t k ol .W l he
ni ta i
w
3

J
udgeuli e yf
tmatl ound t tM s Oli e re ess m e tg e trr src i nst t else
ha . le xpe i nc o wha r ae e tito han hos it d
by Dr Humphre , hevoc to e r cla l t sii d t tt physc lmia i i ntfe
.
is t
ai nal xpe t e ry e tfe ha he
ial i ttons de ii d
by t Admi sr tveLaw J
he
nita i
udgewoul no pr ve pe f m a eofava i t ofs de a y wo k
d t e nt ror nc
rey e nt r r
r e , ncudi c rai oft ewhi h pl ntf pr ousype f med.A sf t r mai ng
ol s i l ng e t n hos
c ai if evi l ror
or he e ni
m e ca e de ,t cour not t tno t e tng m edi als lce ha s es e t tM s Oli i
di l vi nce he
t es ha
rai
c otr
s ugg t d ha
. le s

t a l dia e ort ts i u bl t pe f m wor a ar e i s orc t m e s r i e
otly s bl d, ha he s na e o ror
k s ec ptonit uso r e v c
r pr e a i Cons de i a 1t e de i t s c e t c t le s t tt
e es nt tve.
i r ng 1 he vi nce n hi as , he our be i ve ha he
A dm i s r tve Law J
nit a i
udge r s na y de e m i t tpl i i fi notdi a e w ihi t
ea o bl t r ned ha a ntf s
s bl d t n he

m e ni oft Ac .Ac di y,t Commi sone ' fna decson mus bea fr d.
a ng he t cor ngl he
s i r s i l ii
t fime
On a
ppea t t sc tpli tf ar uest tt Ad i sr tveLa J
l o hi our, a n if g
ha he m nitai
w udgef l t
aied o
pr l a c mtf he s ve e o s t How e r i de e m i ng t tM s O li sphys c l
opery c ot or r e r be iy.
ve , n t r ni ha
. le'
ia
lm ia i do notpr ve pe f r a e oflght rwor ac i te ,Dr H um phr e o ousy t
i t tons
e nt r o m nc
i e
k tvii s .
i s bvi l ook
pl i if s obe iy i o a co mt M o e r t r c d r vea st tpl i ifha w o ke f m a
a ntf
s t nt c t . r ove , he e or e l ha a ntf s r d or ny

ye r des t he o iy. Thecour a e wiht Co misone ' c uson t tt medial
a s pie r best
t gr es t he m s i r s oncl i ha he
c
r or i t s c s i l ng t clni a not s f om pl ntf st e tng m edi a s ur e ,s m pl
ec d n hi a e, nc udi he i c l e r
ai i f r a i
cl o cs i y
doesnots
uppor t pr
t he oposton t tM s Oli sobest i s s ve e,c i r s ngl ori
ii ha
. le'
iy s o e r ons de ed i y n

combi ton wih he ot i r nt ,a t r nde he dia ed f s dentr f m sofwor
na i
t r her mpaime s s o e r r s bl or e a y or
k.
M s O li a s as e t t tt A d i sr tve La J e unde s a e t e f c ofs e p
. le l o s r s ha he m ni t a i
w udg
r t t d he f e t l e

a a.Pl ntf no e t ts be m e se py a wor a t tt c ton a f c she a lt
pne
ai if t s ha he co s le t k, nd ha he ondii fe t r biiy
t c e r t . Ho ve ,whiepl i ifc e ry s f r fo a se dior r M s Oli ha
o onc nta e
we r
l antf l a l ufe s r m lep s de , . le s
under
gone a num berofsl sudi whi i cat t hercondii i no m or t m id i
eep t es, ch ndi e hat
t on s
e han l n

o r l i pa t H e doc or ha pr c i d tea m e r i e t a e she pr bl m s W hie
ve a l m c . r t s ve es r be r t nt eg m ns o ddr s r o e .
l
4

M s Oli maybelev t t ete t e me ur ha notbe t aly s c s u , hec t
. le
i e hat hes r am nt as es ve
en ot l uc es f l t our

a i not st tno physci o s cils hass
gan e ha
i an r pe a it
ugge t d t pl ntf i t al diabld,des t
se hat ai if s ot ly s e
pie
c
onduc ofanlmbe ofdi nosi se p sudi .
t
l r
ag tc le t es
Fi ly, antf co e t tt Adm i sr tveLaw J
na l pli if ntnds ha he
nita i
udgef ie t pr ryco i r
a ld o ope l nsde
a c edi pli ifst tmony a t a i sr tvehe rng.Aspr vi l not d,M s Oli
nd r t antf esi
t he dm nitai
ai
e ousy e
. le
t s ii d t the s e p di o de c us w o k- e a e pr e s She a s des r be s gnii a
e tf e ha r l e s r r a es r r l t d obl m .
l o c i d i f c nt
l ve sofpa n i he l e ba k, e ,a r ghtf . A s pa t hi t s i ony, he voca i na
e l
i n r ow r c l gs nd i oot
r of s e tm
t
to l

e pe t o e ta se pigo tej bi n tolrtd.Ho v r tec u t eiv st a mu ho
x r n td h t le n n h o s o t eae
we e ,h o r b le e h t c f
pl i ifst si ony i sm pl notconsse wihpl n if smedialr c d and he own wor
antf e tm
si y
it nt t aitf
c e or
r
k

hit r Asf rpli ifsphysca di c or i i wels tl d t t i or f rpan t be
so y.
o antf
i l s omf q t s l e te ha, n der o i o

d e dd s bi ,h r mu tb o j ci me ia e ie ee tbihngt ee se c o s me
e me ia l t ee s e be t
ng
ve dc l vd nc sa ls i h xitn e f o
co to t tc d r as
ndii n ha oul e onabl be e
y
xpec ed t pr
t o oduc t pa n a l ge Cr g v.Cha e ,76 F. d
e he i le d. ai
tr
3

5 5 5 2 9 ( t Ci. 9 6 ; se v. c lr 7 0F.d 1 25 1 2 (t Ci. 98 ) I te
8 , 9 - 3 4h r 1 9 ) Fo tr He k e, 8 2 1 , 1 9 4 h r 1 6 .n h
i tntc e a outi da ve t coltbeivest tt obe tvee de edoesnotdoc t
nsa as , s lne bo ,he tr le ha he j ci vi nc
umen
t e senc ofan m e ca co to whi h c dbee ctd t pr ve pe f
he xit e
y di l ndii n
c oul
xpe e o e nt ronnanc of
e
s de a y lvel ofwor a tviy. I e t m e c lc ula ,Dr Hlmphre ,pr ed
e ntr e s
k c i t nde d, he di a ons t nt . l
is oduc
phys c lfndi whi h cl a l s
i a i ngs c e r y uppor a tndi ofr i ua f nc i lc pac t f lght rf r s
t i ng es d l u tona a iy or i e o m

ofwor Oncea i no me c lpr de hass
k.
gan,
di a ovi r
ugge t d t tM s Oli i t aly dia e ort t
se ha . le s ot l s bld, ha

he physc pr e sc d be e c e t r ul i dia i s
r
ial oblm oul
xpe t d o es t n s blng ympt aol
om t ogy.I s qt
n hor he
c tfndss t nta e de et s por t La J
our i ubsa i l vi nc o up t he w udge' r ol i oft c e biiy is si
s es uton he r di lt sue n
( s.Oli scas
M
le'
e.

5

I a sr ng t Comm isone ' fna de ii t cour doe nots
n f mi he
s i rs i l c son, he
t s
ugge tt pl ntf i
s hat ai if s
9e ofa lpai i he ba k,l , nd f e . M or ove ,i i cl a t tpl i ifhasa hi t y of
e l n n r c egs a e t
e r t s e r ha a ntf
s or

ot r m e ca pr e a wel i l ng se p a a COPD , abees s zle dior r a
he
di l obl ms s l, ncudi le pne ,
di t , eitr s de , nd
h r e i w hi h a e toubl s e, t i t m s oft i m a f s a i a t t e t e
ype t ns on, c r r e om bo h n er
he r ni e t tons nd he r a m nt
ne es a y t c r t rs m pt s H oweve ,t f c r a nst tno m e ca pr de has
c s r o ont ol hei y om .
r he a t em i ha
di l ovi r
s
uggesed t tM s O li i t t ly diabl I ed, he r po t i t sca e s ppor t
t ha
. le s o a l s ed. nde t e r s n hi s u
t he

prp iint a plitf sp o lmsaes b e tt ra o a eme ia c n r lh o h
o osto h t an if r be r u j c o e s n bl dc l o to tr ug
c e v tveteam e m e tr .l i wels tl d t tt i biiyt do wo k wihouta
ons r ai r t nt asles t s l e te ha he na lt o
r t
ny

s b e tv d s o o t o sn to isl r n e acama t oal ds b e .Cri v. tr
u j cie ic mf r d e o f tef e d r li n t tl ia ld ag Chae ,
y
s ma 594- Aspr vi l notd, hec tbei ve t tt Co mi sonerc i r alof
upr t
95.
e ousy e t our le s ha he m s i
onsde ed l

t es be tvefco sr ao bys p re b ter c r i a j dc tn plitf' cam f r
h u jci a t r e s na l u po td y h e o d n d u iaig an ifs li o
be t . I f l st ta lf e soft Com m i s one ' fna de i i a e s
ne ks t olow ha 1 ac t
he
s i r s i l c son r uppored b
t y

s tnta e de e.
ubsa il vi nc
Asage r lnze r ol i ofcontit i t e de e i ama t wihi t pr nc of
ne a l , es uton
lc s n he vi nc s
ter t n he ovi e
t Com m i s one e n i t co tm i htr s ve t c l c sdif r nty. R i ha ds v. r l s
he
s i r ve f he ur g e ol he ont i t f e e l
c r on Pe a e ,

s a;
upr Oppenhem v. nch, F. 396( hCi.1 .Fort ras satd,hec ti t
i Fi 495 2d
4t r 974)
he e ons t e t our fnds he
Comm isone ' r s uto oft pe tne c lcs i t r cor i t sca et be s
s i rs e ol i n he ri nt onti t n he e d n hi s o
uppored by
t
s t nta e de e.A c r ngl t fna de s on oft Com m is one m us be a fr e La s
ubs a i l vi nc
co di y, he i l ci i
he
si r
t f im d. w

v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o raej d me ta do d rwil ee trdt i d y
Cee rz e s p a
p r p it u g n n r e l b n ee hs a .
The Cl r i die t d t s nd c r ii c e oft sM e or nd Opi on t a 1 uns lof
e k s r c e o e e tfed opi s hi m a um
ni o 1 co e
r o d.
ec r

DATED: s ln N
Thi

d yo J l, 2015.
a f uy

Chi fUnied St t D it i J
e
t
a es s rct udge
6