Allen v. O'Malley

United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Allen v. O'Malley

Trial Court Opinion

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

DEBRA LYNN ALLEN, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Case No. 2:23-cv-734-SMD ) MARTIN J. O’MALLEY, ) Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

On February 22, 2024, the Commissioner filed an Unopposed Motion for Entry of Judgment Under Sentence Four of

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g). Comm’r’s Mot. (Doc. 8). The Commissioner requests that the Court reverse the Commissioner’s decision and remand this case for further consideration and administrative action pursuant to sentence four of

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g).

Id. p. 1

. The Commissioner avers that, on remand, the Commissioner “will undertake further administrative proceedings and issue a new decision.” Comm’r’s Br. (Doc. 8-1) p. 1. 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 “either . . . the decision is not supported by substantial evidence, or . . . the Commissioner or the 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 the Commissioner concedes reconsideration and further administrative actions are necessary. Furthermore, Plaintiff does not oppose the motion. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that the Commissioner’s Unopposed Motion for Entry of Judgment Under Sentence Four (Doc. 8) is GRANTED and that the decision of the Commissioner is hereby REVERSED and REMANDED for further proceedings under

42 U.S.C. § 405

(g) consistent with the Commissioner’s motion. Further, it is ORDERED that, in accordance with Bergen v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.,

454 F.3d 1273

,

1278 n.2 (11th Cir. 2006), Plaintiff shall have ninety (90) days after she receives notice of any amount of past due benefits awarded 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 28th day of February, 2024.

Stephen M. Doyle CHIEF U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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