Opinion
Case No.: 2:18-cv-680-FtM-38MRM
02-12-2020
RHONDA SUE HOFFMAN, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
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Before the Court is United States Magistrate Judge Mac R. McCoy's Report and Recommendation (Doc. 21). Judge McCoy recommends affirming the Commissioner of Social Security's decision to deny Plaintiff Rhonda Sue Hoffman's disability, disability insurance benefits ("DIB"), and supplemental security income ("SSI"). Hoffman objects to the R&R (Doc. 22), to which the Commissioner has responded (Doc. 23).
BACKGROUND
The Court adopts the factual background detailed in the R&R. (Doc. 21 at 2-4). For brevity's sake, the Court will briefly outline the procedural background. Nearly six years ago, Hoffman applied for a period of disability, DIB, and SSI for her seizures and memory loss. After a hearing, the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") denied Hoffman's application, finding that she was not disabled. The Appeals Council denied Hoffman's request for review, making the ALJ's decision the Commissioner's final decision. Thereafter, Hoffman filed the instant appeal. (Doc. 1).
LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Review of the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation
In reviewing a report and recommendation, the district court "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). When a party makes specific objections to a magistrate judge's report, the district court engages in a de novo review of the issues raised. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
B. Review of the ALJ's Decision
A court's review of the Commissioner's decision is limited to evaluating whether substantial evidence supports the decision and whether the ALJ applied the proper legal standards. See Winschel v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1178 (11th Cir. 2011). This review is de novo. See Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986)). "Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004) (quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997)). "[The Court] may not decide facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute [its] judgment for that of the Commissioner." Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, n. 8 (11th Cir. 2004)). The ALJ's decision must be affirmed if it is supported by substantial evidence, even if the Court finds the evidence more likely supports a different conclusion. See Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397, 1400 (11th Cir. 1996) (citing Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990)).
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff raises two objections to the R&R, offering nothing more than a reiteration of the arguments she made in the parties' Joint Memorandum. (Doc. 20). Hoffman asserts the ALJ erred because she: (1) failed to provide Plaintiff with a supplemental hearing to cross-examine Dr. Zaki; and (2) failed to develop the record regarding the testimony of a vocational expert at step five (Doc. 22). Plaintiff repeats her arguments as presented to Judge McCoy and adds no legal or factual support for her objections to the R&R. See Doc. 22 at pp. 8-11, 15-18.
After an independent review of the complete record, Joint Memorandum (Doc. 20), and applicable case law, the Court finds the R&R to be well reasoned, thorough, and legally sound. As such, the Court agrees with Judge McCoy's findings and recommendations over Hoffman's objections. Therefore, the Commissioner's decision is affirmed.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
1. Plaintiff's Objections to the United States Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (Doc. 22) are OVERRULED.
2. United States Magistrate Judge Mac R. McCoy's Report and Recommendation (Doc. 21) is ADOPTED and ACCEPTED and the findings incorporated herein.
3. The Commissioner of Social Security's decision is AFFIRMED.
4. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security, and to close the file.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida this 12th day of February, 2020.
/s/ _________
SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record