Muhammad v. Kijakazi(CONSENT)

United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Muhammad v. Kijakazi(CONSENT)

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA NORTHERN DIVISION

YAYHA MUHAMMAD, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CASE NO. 2:20-CV-873-KFP ) KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ) Acting Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER The Commissioner has filed an Unopposed Motion for Entry of Judgment Under Sentence Four of

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g). Doc. 16. The Commissioner also filed a supporting memorandum asserting that reversal and remand are necessary so that an ALJ may re- evaluate the evidence of record. Doc. 17. On remand, the Appeals Council will instruct the ALJ to (1) obtain supplemental vocational expert testimony; (2) identify and resolve any conflicts between the occupational evidence provided by the vocational expert and the information in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles; (3) offer Plaintiff an opportunity for a hearing; (4) take any further action to complete the administrative record; and (5) issue a new decision.

Id.

In addition, the parties consented to entry of final judgment by the United States Magistrate Judge under

28 U.S.C. § 636

(c). Docs. 8, 9. Sentence Four of

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g) authorizes the district court to “enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.”

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g). The district court may remand a case to the Commissioner for a rehearing if the court finds “the decision is not supported by substantial evidence [or

the Commissioner or ALJ] incorrectly applied the law relevant to the disability claim.” Jackson v. Chater,

99 F.3d 1086, 1092

(11th Cir. 1996). In this case, the Court finds reversal and remand necessary, as Defendant concedes reconsideration and further development of the record is required. See Doc. 17. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Commissioner’s motion is GRANTED. The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED and REMANDED for further proceedings under

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g). It is further ORDERED that, in accordance with Bergen v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.,

454 F.3d 1273

, 1278 n.2 (11th Cir. 2006), Plaintiff has 90 days after receipt of notice of an award of past due benefits to seek attorney’s fees under

42 U.S.C. § 406

(b). See also Blitch v. Astrue,

261 F. App’x 241

, 241 n.1 (11th Cir. 2008).

A separate judgment will issue. DONE this 10th day of August, 2021.

/s/ Kelly Fitzgerald Pate KELLY FITZGERALD PATE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Reference

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