Birch v. Kijakazi (CONSENT)

United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Birch v. Kijakazi (CONSENT)

Trial Court Opinion

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

CHARLES BIRCH, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CASE NO. 2:20-CV-1050-KFP ) KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ) Acting Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER The Commissioner has filed an Unopposed Motion for Entry of Judgment with Reversal and Remand of the Cause to the Defendant. Doc. 16. The Commissioner also filed a supporting memorandum asserting that reversal and remand is appropriate in this matter to “fully discuss the persuasiveness, including the supportability and consistency, of each medical opinion and issue a new decision.” Id. at 1. In addition, the parties consented to entry of final judgment by the United States Magistrate Judge under

28 U.S.C. § 636

(c). Docs. 12, 13. 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 of the record is

required. See Doc. 16. 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 18th day of August, 2021.

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

Reference

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