Finley v. Commissioner of Social Security

8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 9 SEATTLE DIVISION COLLEEN FINLEY, Civil No. 2:25-CV-00539-MLP 11 Plaintiff, 12 vs. ORDER COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 14 Defendant.

15 The Commissioner’s final decision is REVERSED and REMANDED for further administrative proceedings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Upon remand, the Appeals Council will instruct the Administrative Law Judge to offer the claimant an opportunity for a hearing; take further action to complete the administrative record; and issue a new decision.

1 Remand is made under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). See Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89 (1991). Plaintiff will be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and expenses pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), upon proper request to this Court. Plaintiff will be entitled to costs as enumerated in 28 U.S.C. § 1920, under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a). Judgment shall be entered for Plaintiff.

Dated this 25th day of June, 2025.

A MICHELLE L. PETERSON 9 United States Magistrate Judge Presented by: s/Zachary Berkoff-Cane ZACHARY BERKOFF-CANE Special Assistant United States Attorney Office of Program Litigation, Office 7 Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 6401 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21235 Tel: (410) 966-1542 Email: [email protected]