Thiel v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec.

Full title: KAREN THIEL, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

Date published: Aug 4, 2015

CASE NO. 1:13-CV-1216 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 4, 2015)

Opinion

CASE NO. 1:13-CV-1216

08-04-2015

KAREN THIEL, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.

HON. ROBERT J. JONKER

ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Green's Report and Recommendation in this matter (docket # 20); Plaintiff's Objections to the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (docket # 21); and the Commissioner's Response to Objections (docket # 22). Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, where, as here, a party has objected to portions of a Report and Recommendation, "[t]he district judge . . . has a duty to reject the magistrate judge's recommendation unless, on de novo reconsideration, he or she finds it justified." 12 WRIGHT, MILLER, & MARCUS, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 3070.2, at 381 (2d ed. 1997). Specifically, the Rules provide that:

The district judge to whom the case is assigned shall make a de novo determination upon the record, or after additional evidence, of any portion of the magistrate judge's disposition to which specific written objection has been made in accordance with this rule. The district judge may accept, reject, or modify the recommended decision, receive further evidence, or recommit the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions.

FED R. CIV. P. 72(b). De novo review in these circumstances requires at least a review of the evidence before the Magistrate Judge. Hill v. Duriron Co., 656 F.2d 1208, 1215 (6th Cir. 1981). The Court has reviewed de novo the claims and evidence presented to the Magistrate Judge; the Report and Recommendation itself; Plaintiff's objections; and the Defendant's response to objections. The Court finds the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (docket # 20) factually sound and legally correct.

The Magistrate Judge recommends affirming the decision of the ALJ to deny Plaintiff's request for disability insurance benefits. In her Objections, Plaintiff primarily reiterates and expands arguments she made in her initial brief. The Report and Recommendation already carefully, thoroughly, and accurately addresses each of those arguments. Nothing in Plaintiff's Objections adds to or otherwise changes the analysis. The Magistrate Judge correctly concluded that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's decision.

ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (docket # 20) is approved and adopted as the opinion of the Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED.

/s/Robert J. Jonker

Robert J. Jonker

Chief United States District Judge
Dated: August 4, 2015