Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:16-cv-01116
09-21-2017
MARY MARGARET CHAMPAGNE v. U.S. COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
MAGISTRATE JUDGE HANNA JUDGMENT
This matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Hanna for report and recommendation. After an independent review of the record, and noting the absence of any objections, this Court concludes that the Magistrate Judge's report and recommendation is correct and adopts the findings and conclusions therein as its own. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the Commissioner's decision is REVERSED and REMANDED to the Commissioner pursuant to the fourth sentence of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). More particularly, the Commissioner is instructed to (1) properly weigh the opinions of all of the physicians who have treated the claimant since the alleged disability onset date, (2) properly evaluate whether the claimant's impairments meet or medically equal the requirements of Listing 1.02 or Listing 1.04, (3) properly consider and weigh the lay witness evidence provided by the claimant's former employer, and (4) again evaluate the claimant's residual functional capacity. The claimant should also be afforded an opportunity to supplement the record with updated medical records and to testify at another hearing.
A fourth sentence remand constitutes a final judgment that triggers the filing period for an EAJA fee application. Shalala v. Schaeffer, 509 U.S. 292 (1993); Freeman v. Shalala, 2 F.3d 552, 553 (5
Signed at Shreveport, Louisiana, this 21st day of September, 2017.
/s/_________
ELIZABETH E. FOOTE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
th Cir. 1993).