Opinion
1:12-CV-1827 (NAM/DEP)
12-20-2013
DAVID TIMOTHY DONOVAN, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
David Timothy Donovan Plaintiff, Pro Se Hon. Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney Sixtina Fernandez, Esq., Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Attorney for Defendant
APPEARANCES: David Timothy Donovan
Plaintiff, Pro Se
Hon. Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney
Sixtina Fernandez, Esq., Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
Attorney for Defendant
Hon. Norman A. Mordue, Senior U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiff's complaint claims that he has been wrongfully denied a cost of living adjustment to his Social Security benefits for the years 2010 and 2011. Attached to his complaint is a notice from the Social Security Administration advising that there was no cost of living adjustment in 2010 and 2011. Defendant moves (Dkt. No. 15) for dismissal of the action for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), and on the ground of sovereign immunity.
United States Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles issued a Report and Recommendation (Dkt. No. 18) recommending that the motion be granted on the ground that plaintiff's claim does not arise from a final decision of the Social Security Administration and that therefore the Court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and (h). Moreover, because section 405(g) does not provide a cause of action against the Government for claims such as plaintiff's, his claim is barred by sovereign immunity.
Plaintiff objects. Upon de novo review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), the Court accepts the Report and Recommendation and grants the motion to dismiss.
It is therefore
ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation (Dkt. No. 18) is accepted; and it is further
ORDERED that defendant's motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 15) is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to serve copies of this Memorandum-Decision and Order in accordance with the Local Rules of the Northern District of New York.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: December 20, 2013
Syracuse, New York
___________________
Norman A. Mordue
Senior U.S. District Judge