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SLOAN v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 2:13-cv-314-FtM-29CM. (2014)

Court: District Court, M.D. Florida Number: infdco20140811860 Visitors: 17
Filed: Aug. 08, 2014
Latest Update: Aug. 08, 2014
Summary: OPINION AND ORDER JOHN E. STEELE, District Judge. This matter is before the Court on consideration of Magistrate Judge Carol Mirando's Report and Recommendation (Doc. #26), filed on July 18, 2014, recommending that the Decision of the Commissioner be affirmed. No objections have been filed, and the time to do so has expired. The Court reviews the Commissioner's decision to determine if it is supported by substantial evidence and based upon proper legal standards. Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc.
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OPINION AND ORDER

JOHN E. STEELE, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on consideration of Magistrate Judge Carol Mirando's Report and Recommendation (Doc. #26), filed on July 18, 2014, recommending that the Decision of the Commissioner be affirmed. No objections have been filed, and the time to do so has expired.

The Court reviews the Commissioner's decision to determine if it is supported by substantial evidence and based upon proper legal standards. Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004)(citing Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997)). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla but less than a preponderance, and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005)(citing Crawford, 363 F.3d at 1158-59). Even if the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner's findings, the Court must affirm if the decision reached is supported by substantial evidence. Crawford, 363 F.3d at 1158-59 (citing Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990)). The Court does not decide facts anew, make credibility judgments, reweigh the evidence, or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211 (citing Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983)); Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005)(citing Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240 n.8 (11th Cir. 2004)). The Court reviews the Commissioner's conclusions of law under a de novo standard of review. Ingram v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253, 1260 (11th Cir. 2007)(citing Martin, 894 F.2d at 1529).

The Report and Recommendation makes the following findings: (1) the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) did not err in determining that plaintiff's mental impairments OF depression, generalized anxiety, and social phobia were nonsevere because he properly attributed significant probative weight to the opinions of James Mendelson, Ph.D. and Lee Reback, Psy.D., P.A., and alternatively, any error was harmless; (2) the ALJ properly analyzed the opinion of plaintiff's treating physician, Joseph S. Chirillo Jr., M.D., in determining plaintiff's residual functional capacity; (3) the ALJ properly considered and assessed plaintiff's credibility; and (4) the ALJ's determination that plaintiff could perform her past relevant work as a medical secretary was supported by the substantial evidence. After an independent review of the administrative record, Doc. #14, the Court agrees with the findings and recommendations in the Report and Recommendation.

Accordingly, it is now

ORDERED:

1. The Report and Recommendation (Doc. #26) is accepted and adopted by the Court.

2. The Decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is affirmed.

3. The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly and close the file.

Source:  Leagle

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