Opinion
Case No. 15-cv-1500-BAS(BGS)
04-18-2016
CHRISTOPHER L. FRISBIE, Plaintiff, v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER:
(1) APPROVING AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION IN ITS ENTIRETY;
(2) DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT;
(3) GRANTING DEFENDANT'S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; AND
[ECF Nos. 17, 18]
On July 7, 2015, Plaintiff Christopher L. Frisbie, proceeding in forma pauperis, commenced this action under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), challenging the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration's denial of disability benefits. Thereafter, the Court referred this matter to United States Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal, who issued a Report and Recommendation ("R&R") on March 29, 2016, recommending that this Court: (1) deny Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and (2) grant Defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. The time for filing objections to the R&R expired on April 13, 2016. (R&R 24:25-26:6.) Both parties are represented by counsel, but to date, neither party has filed any objections.
I. ANALYSIS
The court reviews de novo those portions of the R&R to which objections are made. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). It may "accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." Id. But "[t]he statute makes it clear that the district judge must review the magistrate judge's findings and recommendations de novo if objection is made, but not otherwise." United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (emphasis in original); see also Schmidt v. Johnstone, 263 F. Supp. 2d 1219, 1226 (D. Ariz. 2003) (concluding that where no objections were filed, the district court had no obligation to review the magistrate judge's report). "Neither the Constitution nor the statute requires a district judge to review, de novo, findings and recommendations that the parties themselves accept as correct." Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d at 1121. This rule of law is well-established within the Ninth Circuit and this district. See Wang v. Masaitis, 416 F.3d 992, 1000 n.13 (9th Cir. 2005) ("Of course, de novo review of a R & R is only required when an objection is made to the R & R."); Nelson v. Giurbino, 395 F. Supp. 2d 946, 949 (S.D. Cal. 2005) (Lorenz, J.) (adopting report in its entirety without review because neither party filed objections to the report despite the opportunity to do so); see also Nichols v. Logan, 355 F. Supp. 2d 1155, 1157 (S.D. Cal. 2004) (Benitez, J.).
In the social-security context, the district court's jurisdiction is limited to determining whether the Social Security Administration's denial of benefits is supported by substantial evidence in the administrative record. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A district court may overturn a decision to deny benefits only if it is not supported by substantial evidence or if the decision is based on legal error. See Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995); Magallenes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). The Ninth Circuit defines substantial evidence as "more than a mere scintilla but less than a preponderance; it is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1039. Determinations of credibility, resolution of conflicts in medical testimony, and all other ambiguities are to be resolved by the administrative law judge ("ALJ"). See id.; Magallenes, 881 F.2d at 750. The decision of the ALJ will be upheld if the evidence is "susceptible to more than one rational interpretation." Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1040.
In this case, the deadline for filing objections was on April 13, 2016. However, no objections have been filed, and neither party has requested additional time to do so. Consequently, the Court may adopt the R&R on that basis alone. See Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d at 1121. Nonetheless, having conducted a de novo review of the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment and the R&R, the Court concludes that Judge Skomal's reasoning is sound and accurate in recommending that this Court deny Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and grant Defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. Therefore, the Court hereby approves and ADOPTS IN ITS ENTIRETY the R&R. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
II. CONCLUSION & ORDER
In light of the foregoing, the Court approves and ADOPTS IN ITS ENTIRETY the R&R, DENIES Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and GRANTS Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The Clerk of the Court is ORDERED to close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: April 18, 2016
/s/ _________
Hon. Cynthia Bashant
United States District Judge