Dalton v. Berryhill

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/30/2018. (ck)

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CLERK' OFFI L.S. Sq. S CE J A7 ROAN Di -CCUF I G OKE, VA FI LED I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR TH E W ESTERN D I STRI O F V I I A CT RG NI R OAN OI D I SI CE VI ON 0I 2 2 J BK c, D us cu x ç. TRW I S. LTON , TY DA Ci lAci N o.7: 7CV0051 vi ton 1 9 Pl i if antf, M EM O M N DU M O PI I N N O NANCY A.BERRYHI Aci LL, tng Com m i sone o Soc a Sec u t s i r f i l t i y, By: Hon. e E.Corr d Gln ta Se o Unie Stt sDititJ ni r t d a e src udge De enda . f nt Pl i ifha ll d t sa ton c lngi t fna de ii oft Comm isone ofSoc a antf s ie hi c i hale ng he i l c son he si r il Se urt de ng pl n ifs cli s f dia e cll s i tr nc be f and s e nt l c iy nyi aitf am or s bl d lid' nsla e neks uppl me a s cliyi o b neist e t S ca S c rt Ac, sa nd d 4 U. C. j4 2 d a d4 , e t t nc me e ft md r he o il e u i ta me e , 2 S. j 0 ( ) n 23 r y a d 4 U.. j 1 1 e s q,rs ci ey. J rs ito o ti c u ti pzs n t 4 U. C. n 2 SC. 38 t e . epe tv l u idcin f h s o r s l ua t o 2 S. r j40 ()a d4 U.. j 1 8 ()3 . Asrfe tdb t me rn aa ag me ts b te b 5g n 2 SC. 3 3c () elce y he mo a d nd r u n u mitd y t pa tes t is s now bef e t c ta e whehe t Comm isone ' fnalde ii i he ri , he s ue or he our r t r he s i rs c son s s uppo td by s t nta e de e,o whehe t r i Egood c us 't ne es ia er m a ngt re ubsa il vi nc r t r he e s ç a e' o c st t e ndi he c s t t eCo s in rf rf rhe c n ieain. Se 4 U. C. 40 () a e o h mmiso e o u t r o sd rto e 2 S. j 5 g . The pl i i f Tr niy S.D a t w as bor on N ove be 7,1 a ntf , i t lon, n m r 990, M r D a t e nm aly . lon ve l g a u td fo h g sho lwih a mo iid dpo a t a eo 1 . ( .8 ) He h sn r d ae r m ih c o t dfe ilmaot he g f 9 Tr 20 . a o hso yo pa t ee a twok. ( . 6 68 . itr f s rlv n r Tr 3 , ) On Se e be 13, 201 M r Dalon fl d a i a i f di a ed chid' i tr nc pt m r 3, . t ie pplc tons or s bl l s ns la e be ft a s e e a s c ui y i om e be is I f lng hi c r e c a m s M r Dalon ne is nd uppl m nt l e t t nc neft . n ii s u r nt l i , . t al ge t the be n dia e f r a1f ms of s t ntalganf e pl e on M a c 1 le d ha c me s bld o 1 or ubsa i i ul m oym nt r h 8, 2 2 d t a h a tc n iin a d p o lmswih hi rg tlp. ( .2 ) M. Datn n w 01 , ue o e r o dto n r be t s i h l Tr 46 . r l o i . o mai ai t theha r ma ne dia e t t pr e tm e. nt ns ha s e i d s bl d o he es nt i M r Dat sa plc tonswe ede e upon i ta c i r ton a r onsde a i . lon' p i ai r ni d niil onsde a i nd ec i r ton. He t n r ue t d a r c i d a deno hea i a r vi w be or a Admi sr tve La J he eq se nd e e ve vo rng nd e e f e n nita i w udge . I an o ni da e Nove be 23,2016 t La J n pi on t d m r , he w udge alo dee ne a tr a yi t s tnni d, fe ppl ng he fvese s q nta e l ton pr e s t tMr Dalon i no dia e See 20 C. R.jj i -tp e ue il vauai oc s , ha . t s t s bld. F. w udg ound t tM r Dat s f r fo s ve a s ve e ha 40 1 20 a 41 920. The La J e f 4. 5 nd 6. 1 lon ufe s r m e r l e r . i pa r e s i l ng t t tl pos ao tc t a r quii s e pl c m e , s a us pos o n m i m nt , nc udi ç a ts s t r i e r e rng t nt a e nt t t t pe r d to itr a fx to l f t rg t i a d()la nn d sb l y'b t h th s i i n s e ucin ne n li ain o lhe ih hp, n a e r ig ia ii y u t a te e mpanne t t ' do not et i vi ly o i c , iher ndi dual r n ombi to m e tormedialy e lt r quie nt o alse nai n, e c l qua he e r me s f it d i ar n .Tr 3 - 1 . Th La J d et e a s se M r Datn' rsd a f to l a ct mp ime t( . 0 3 ) e w u g h n se s d . l s e iu luncina c pa iy o asf l s olow ' . Afe c r f l c i r to of t e ie r or t t r i ne tr a e u onsde ai n he ntr ec d, he mde sg d fnds t t t ca ma has t r sdual f nci na c pa iy t i ha he li nt he e i u to l a ct o pe f ronn a r nge of s de a y wor as de i a e nt r k fned i 20 C. R. n F. 4 4.5 7 a a d 41 .6 ( i t t t e cama t i a l t 0 1 6 4) n 69 7 $, n ha h li n s be o fe nty lf a c r y 1 pot ,oc aso ly lf a c r que l it nd a r 0 mds c i nal it nd any 20 pot ,a stf r sx hotr a sa wa k f f tr hotr i a mds nd i o i ls nd t nd/ l or o l ls n n ei thour pe i gh rod. I a ton, t ca ma c n ne r c i n ddii he li nt a ve lmb l dde s r s ors afol ,c oc sonal c i r mpsorsar , a r , ope , c f ds an ca i ly lmb n t is knee,or c a ,ca fe nty soop o c ouc a s d a d l r wl n r que l t r r h, nd houl voi co e r td e lr t ha r . nc ntae xposze o za ds 1A cai f rdia ed c l s i ur e be isdsanayz t rt s m e tve-t p s nta pr es l m o s bl hid' ns anc nett s i l ed mde he a i se eque il oc s us t deemi dia lt f rpu pos ofdia lt i tr nc be isand s pplme als urt i ome a t ed o tr ne s biiy o r es s biiy nsla e nett u e nt ec iy nc , nd he cama tmutas ha eadsbit ta b g n b fr (e r ah da e2 . Hik v. l m No. 1 -v-0 8 li n s lo v ia ly h t e a eoe h ) e c e g 21 c s Covi i ' 7:2c 0 61 , 201 U. DitLEXI 2 2 4 a * n2( . Va Fe 2 , 01 )(i to so te ) Th po esrq ie t La 4 S. s. S 2 7 , t 4 . W D. . b. 0 2 4 ct in mitd . e rc s e urshe w a J g t c n ie,i s q n e wh te acama t ()i e g g d i sbsa t lg i u a t iy ()h sasv r ud e o o sd r n e ue c , eh r li n: 1 s n a e n u tni anfl ci t; 2 a e ee a v i ar n;3 h sa i ime th t eso e uasterq ie nso alse i ar n ;4 c nrt ' t hi mp ime t () a n mpar n ta me t r q l h e urme t f itd mp ime t () a etn ö s u p s rlv n wok a d () i n t wh te h c n pef r oh r wok i te n to a e o o at ee a t r; n 5 f o, eh r e a rom te r n h ain l c n my. 2 C. R. 0 F. j 4 41 2 a d 41 .20 I a d cso cn b ra h d a a y se i tesq e ta e au to p o e s frh r j 0 .5 0 n 69 . f e iin a e e c e t n tp n h e u nil v lain r c s, u te e uai i ur e s ay. 1 val ton s m ce s r d. ( .3 ) Gie ti rsd a f n to a c pa iy a d atr c n i eig t e tsi n o a Tr 2 . v n h s e iu l u cin l a ct, n fe o sd rn h e tmo y f voc tona e r,t La J a i l xpe t he w udgede e ne t tM r Dat n r t i s fc e f tonalc pa t t nni d ha . lo e ans ufii nt unc i a ciy t pe f m ce ti t kil d,s nt r wor r e e si i sg sca numbe i t na i l o ror ra n ms le ede a y k ols xitng n i ni nt r n he tona e o my ( . 6 . Ac o dn l t La J d ec ncu e t tM r Dat ni n tds be , nd c no . Tr 3 ) c r igy,he w u g o ld d ha . lo s o ia ld a t t he i not e il t be ft unde et r f de al pr r m . Se ge r ly 20 C. R. ha s ntted o ne is r ihe e r og n e ne al F. j 40 3 0 a( ) 40 1 2 () a d 41 .2 ( ) Th La J d eso i o wa a o t d a te j 4.5 ()5 , 4.5 0g , n 69 0 g . e w u g ' pnin s d p e s h fna de i in of t Comm isone by t SocalSe liy Admi sr ton' Appea s Cot i. i l c so he si r he i ctrt nita i s l mcl Ha ng e use a1 a ia e a i sr tve r m e es M r Dat n has now a vi xha t d 1 va lbl dm nita i e di , . lo ppeae t t s ld o hi court . W hie pli tf ma be dia e f r c ran f r of e oy e ,t c uca f c a l a n if y s bld o e ti o ms mpl m nt he r il a m l de e mi ton i whehe pl i if i dia e f r a 1f ms o s t nta ga nfl e oyme . t r nai s t r antf s s bld o 1 or f ubsa il i il mpl nt Se 4 U. C.j 4 3 d ()a 1 8 ca . Thee a e f t ee n s o p o fwhih mus be e 2 S. j 2 ()2 nd 3 2 () r r ot lme t f r o r c t c n ie e i ma n s c a a ayss Th s ee nsaes mmaie a f lo : 1 o j ci o sd r d n kig u h n n l i. e e lme t r u rz d s olws ( ) be tve me ia fcsa d ciia fn ig ;( )te o ii n a c n l in o te tngp sca s ( ) dc l a t n ln c l i dn s 2 h pn o s nd o cuso s f r ai hy iin ; 3 s be tvee i e c o p y ia ma fsain o i ar n s a d s rb dtr u hacama ts u j ci v d n e f h sc l nie tto s f mp ime t, s e cie h o g li n ' tsi n a d( )t cama tse u ain, c to a hit r , e iu l kls a da e Vie v. etmo y; n 4 he li n ' d c to vo ain l so y r sd a s i , n g . tk l Fic 4 F.d 1 5 ,1 5 - 0( t Ci.1 71 ; d m o dv. bio f 2 8 F. 8 0 8 (t n h, 38 2 1 7 1 9 6 4h r 9 ) Un e o Ri c f, 9 2d 5 , 51 4 h Ci.1 6 ) r 92. On a a ,M r Dat n r ies s ve a a g e t ,i l ng t tt La J ppe l . lo a s e r l r um n s ncudi ha he w udge e r d i re n de e ni hi r i ua fmc i lc pact a pr s nt d al ga l i ufi i nthypot tca t t t nni ng s esd l t tona a iy nd e e e e ly ns fc e he i l o he voca i na e r . A fe r vi w i t r cor a c i rng t pa te a gum e s t c t to l xpe t tr e e ng he e d nd ons de i he ri s' r nt , he our f nds ç i s good c e' t r m a t c e t t Com m i s o r f f r he de l e a aus ' o e nd he as o he s i ne or u t r ve opm nt nd c i rton. See42U. C.j405g) onsdeai S. ( . The a i sr tve r or r ve s t t M r Dat has a s c fc l r ng dia lt f dm nitai ec d e al ha . lon pe ii en ni s biiy or whc h r c i ds e il d c t n sr ie i sho l ( . 2 , 21 8 7 8 5 . At tpt o ih e e eve p ca e u ai e vc s n c o . Tr 8 0 8 , 2 , 6 ) se wo f o t esq e ta e lainpr c s,heLa J d ef t t a p an ifsla nngd sb l yç a s gj h e u n il vau to o e s t w u g omd h t litf e r i ia ii ç u e s t c sgnii a f nc i lmia i 'and t r f e qua ii a a û e r ' me a i ime t r i fc nt u tonal i t tons' he e or lfes s ç ve e' nt l mpar nt mde s t ea pl a er g lto . ( .3 ) Ad iin l a se t re o t e s q e ta p o e s t h p i bl e u ains Tr 0 . dto al t tp h e f h e u n il r c s, he c y, La J w udge de e ne t tpli ifs me a i par ntr s t i G t nni d ha antf nt l m ime e uls n t moder t d fkuli s'wih ae il te ' t ç o c nrto ,pesse c o p c . ( .31. Alh ug t e La J g dd n ticu e a y s n e tain ritn e r a e' Tr ) t o h h w ud e i o n l d n c ' r titonsr lt d t pli tf sl n n ng dia lt i hi r i ua fl tona c ciy a s s m e t esrc i e ae o a n if e r i s biiy n s esd l lnc i l apa t s e s n o t ei ta h p t tc lp e e tdt t ev c to a e p r ( . 2 6 ) tevo ain le p r r h ni l y oheia rs n e o h o ai n l x e t Tr 3 , 8 , h c to a x e t i v lmtrl a d dal tto t S ns ild' r ( . 8 (I hn teh poh tc l s fn s o t aiy d e i ain o G k l 'wo k. Tr 6 ) t t ik h y t eia bet r me mi u e ( t s de a y wor he e nt r k,obvi l uns le Furhe ,I s es we l atpr uci n- nt d ousy, kild. t r ugg t ook od to ode e wo k' . Th vo ain le pett e ie tfe sv r lun k le ,sde tr j bst a c u d be r .) e c to a x r h n d n iid e ea s ild e na y o h t o l ' p ro me b a idv d a wih t lmiain d s rb d b t e La J d e ( .68. I e fr d y n n ii u l t he i tto s e cie y h w u g . Tr ) n pa tculr t voc tona e r t sii d t tt d e i loc upai na ba e'wo d i l t ri a , he a i l xpe t e tfe ha he t sdua c to l s ' ul ncude he r j b o a smblr b g e/mfe,a di s e trt se . ( . 8-9 . Th La J d eulmaey o s f se e , a g rs fr n n p co /e tr Tr 6 -6 ) e w u g t tl i r l do t et si n o tev aina e p r i d tr nigt a çh r aej bsi sg i a t ei n h e tmo y f h oc to l x e tn eemi n h t ç ee r o n in fc n e t n mb r i tenain l c n myt a tecama tc np ro m. ( . 6 . u es n h to a e o o h t h li n a e fr ' Tr 3 ) ' I t c tsvi w,t difc t wih t La J n he our' e he fi uly t he w udge' e l ton ofpl i ifsm e al s vaua i antf nt i ime i t f d. Fis ,heLa J mpa r nt s wo-ol rtt w udge' o ni n a a st c r ea e a a lt t pe f m s pi o ppe r o o r lt n biiy o ror s m pl t ks w ih t abiiy t m a nt i c e r ton,pe s s e ,a pa . On pa 8 ofhi i e as t he lt o i a n onc nta i r i t nce nd ce ge s decson,t La J ii he w udgesl rl sa e a f l : lmma iy tt s s olows Ast r i no al ga i ore de ofa pr blm swih s i l he e s le ton vi nce ny o e t oc a i e a ton,het r i d fndst tt cli ntha no difc t nt r c i t mde sgne i ha he a ma s fi uly m ant i ng s i l f to ng. Ho ve ,t unde sgne fnds i ani oc a unci ni we r he ri d i t t t m e a i nne c us mode ae difc te i ha he nt l mpai nt a es rt fi ulis n 4 m ant i ng c i ani once r ton, pe sse , or pa e. nta i r it nce c Thus t , he t e sg e fn s ta rsrcins i s d b Eh ) lanng md ri n d id h t etito mpo e y t e e r i d s biiy a e lm ied t i biiy t pe f m wor t t i no i a lt r i t o na lt o ror k ha s t uns led i naur . kil n t e ( . 5 . Th c u t g e swih tep an ift a t eLa J d esc ncus r a ay i c n lcs Tr 3 ) e o r a re t h litf h t h w u g ' o l oy n lss o fit wih t decson oft UniedSt t sCo to Appe l f t Fo ut Cic ti M as i v. vi t he ii he t a e ur f a s or he t ' r ui n h c o Col n, 7 0F.d6 2( t Ci. 01 ) I M aco t eFo rhCic i e pan dta Chea i t t pel m 8 3 3 4h r2 5 . n s i,h u t rut x lie h t c bl y o rbr t i smp et s sdfesfo tea l yt sa o t s ' n ta G o ry telte l tto wo l i l a k ifr r m h bit o ty n a k'a d h t t ql h atr i ain u d i g l mi a ountf a cai ntslmia i i c e r ton,pe sse e,orpa ' M a c o,78 F. a cc or l ma ' i t ton n onc ntai r it nc ce. ' si 0 3d t 638. Thus m e e y lm ii a cam a t t kild wor wihouta f t r e a ton,i , r l i tng li nt o ms le k, t ny urhe xpl na i s i s f in u d r M a co S e ia (peh p te ALJ c n e p an Nh h a co' r d rt n u ûce t n e s i . e l G r a s h i a x li v y 4 s i s no eae lmia i i c e r ton, r it nc o pa e a se t e doe no ta lt i o alm iai n i i t ton n onc nta i pe sse e, r c t tp hr e s t r nsa e nt i t to n M as i sr sdua fmc i co' e i l t tonalc pact ....Butbe us t ALJ her ga no e a ton,a a iy ca e he e ve xplna i rma di i od r' . e n s n r e .) ' Forsmia r as ,t cour i as una e t c ude t tt La J i l r e ons he t s lo bl o oncl ha he w udge pr s nt d a ee e l ga l s fc e t hypot tc l t t vocai na e l W hie t Law J e ly ufi i n hei a o he to l xpet l he udge ado e t pt d he vocai na e r' o ni n t tpl i ifca pe f pr uci n- re e w o k asa as e e , to l xpe ts pi o ha antf n ronn od to o int d r n s mbl r s f r o i pe t r t voc tona e r wasnota ke t c i rt sgnik a eofm ode a e mf e , r ns c o , he ai l xpe t s d o onsde he i t nc rt l tto si c n e tai n p ritnc ,o pa e i t ep ro ma c o s c j bs a1o whih i ain n o c n rto , esse e r c n h e fr n e f u h o , 1 f c mi woul s e i yr quie a tnda et t s Ne rhees , heLaw J d e m ngl e r te nc o a k. ve t l s t udger le ont t tmony ei d he esi o tev c to le p r i d tnnn n t tt r aej b e itn i sg iia tn mb r i t f h o aina x e t n ee ii g ha hee r o s x sig n infc n u es n he nai nale no y whi h M r Dalon ca pe f m . to co m c . t n ror I W ake v.Bo n,8 9 F. 4 ( t Ci.1 8 ) t e Fo rh Cic i c mme td a n lr we 8 2d 7 4h r 9 9 , h u t rut o n e s f l s olow : Thepur eofbrngi i avoc tona e r i t as itt ALJi pos i ng n a i l xpe t s o ss he n de e mi ng whehe t r i wor ava lbl i t nai na t r ni t r he e s k ia e n he to l e cono ywhi ht spa tc a c aman c n pe f m. I or rf a m c hi riulr l i t a ror n de or voc tonale r' opi o t be r lva t or hel u ,i m us be ai xpe ts ni n o ee n pf l t t bas upon ac i r ton ofa1ot re de i t r co d, i ed onsde a i 1 he vi nce n he e r and t m us be i r pons t pr pe hypot tca q s i nsw hi h f il s t t n es eo o r he i l ue t o c a ry e outalofca ma ' i panne s l li nts m i nt . I a 5 (iai n o te ) d. t 0 ctto s mitd . l hi o ni n,t La J n s pi o he w udge di notofe a s ct r tona e f omitng m ode a e d f r ny pe ik a i l or ti rt lm ia i i c e r ton,perit nc or pa f o t hypot tc lque ton on whi t i ttons n onc ntai sse e, ce r m he hei a si ch he vocai na e r' opi onwa ba e Thec r i smpl una et co l t tt spa tc a to l xpe ts ni s s d. ou t s i y bl o ncude ha hi riul r hypot tc lque to whih wa de d of a m e a r src i ,was s fc e t a e tt hei a si n, c s voi ny nt l e titons uf i nt o lr he vocai na e r t t e se to l xpe t o he xit nce of m ode a e lm iai ns i pl i ifs co e r ton,wor r t i tto n antf nc ntai k pe sse e a a t nc t t s The c tbeive t tco i r ton of s h lm i i r it nc , nd tenda e o a k. our le s ha nsde a i uc i Gtons wo l be i o tn i a s si a cama ts c p ct t p ro m te j bs ie tte b t ud mp ra t n se sng li n ' a a iy o ef r h o d n i d y he i voc to le r. I e i r pons t addii na que tons t voc tona e r t tfedt t ai na xpe t nde d,n es e o to l si , he a i l xpe t esii ha t o evey s mej bswo d n ln e b a ia ei t eh p t tc li dv d lwa d srce hs r n o ul o o g r e valbl f h y oheia n iiua s ita td fo wo l gfra la t p r e to t ewo k a . ( . 0 . r 'm r dn o t e s 20 e c n f h r d y Tr 7 ) M or ve ,t Fourh Cic tha s cf ly he d t tç n ALJdoe no a 't Gora eo r he t r ui s pe ika l l ha ç a s t cc mt f o cai ts lmia i i c e r ton,pe sse , a pa by r srci t hypot tca l man ' i t tons n onc nta i r it nce nd ce e ti tng he he i l q sint smp e r u iets so t ki e wo k.' M a co, 8 F.da 6 ( u tn W is h l ueto o i l,o tn a k r ms l d r ' l ' s i 7 0 3 t 38 q o ig n c e v Co 'o So . c, 31F.d 1 76 1 8 ( 1hCi. 01 :. Thec u t e o nie ta M a co . mm r f c Se .6 3 7 , 1 0 1 t r 2 1 o r rc g z s h t s i doe nots a f t pr s t nd or he opos to t tm oder t lm iatons i c ii n ha ae i t i n once r ton,pe s s e ,orpac nta i r it nce e awa ta lt i oalmiai i acama ' rsdua fmci lc palt Rahe , si c td l ys rnsae nt i tton n li nts e i l l tona a iy. t r a ndiae a bove t de ii n t r c e t La J , he c so mde s or s he w udge' dut t e an how hi r sdualfmci na s y o xpl i s ei t to l c pa iy fnd ng a quaey a omtf a camaq ' wo k-eae lr iai . I t sc e t a ct i i s de t l cc t or li ts r r ltd int tons n hi as , he La J w udged dno pr des h e a a n. Cons que l : r m a i i o d r' I i t ovi uc xpl n io e nty, ( e nd s n r e -' d. a Fo t r a ons sa ed, t c t f s G od c us ' t r m a t s c s t t r he e s tt he our md G go a e' o e nd hi a e o he Commisone f fl rde lpm e tan co i r ton.2 I t Co s i r i = a e t s i r or ldhe veo n d nsde ai f he mmisone s bl o de i t c e i plitY sf voron t bass oft e si r c r t Co s ine wil cde he as n nn i a he i he xitng e o dj he mmiso r l $ c uc a s e ntla nitai he rng a whih boh sdeswilbe alo d t pr s n ond t upplme a dmi srtve a i t c t i l l we o e e t a to le de ean a gl nt An a o it o de ofr ma wilbee eedt sda ddii na vi nc d r lme . ppr prae r r e nd l nt r hi y. TheClr i die t dt s nd c ri dc e oft sme r ndlm o ni t a1c uns lo ek s r ce o e e tfe opis bi mo a ' pi on o l o e f rc r e o d. y f tbe, 8. DATED; us- * da o oco r 201 Tl :4 - Se o Unie St t sDi ti tJ ni r t d a e s rc udge 2l lg cft c r' de so t r ma t c s t t Comm iso r t c r de i st ad e sM r n iht he ou ts ciin o e nd he a e o he sine, he ou t olne o drs . Dat j rmqnngcamgofer . lon s e ii ' i l ror ' 7

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