Case ID: f-supp-3d_140/html/0148-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HILLMAN, DISTRICT JUDGE", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Wayne BERNIER, Plaintiff, v. Carolyn COLVIN, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
    CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:13-CV-40148-TSH
    United States District Court, D. Massachusetts.
    Signed October 15, 2015
    Michael J. Kelley, Law Office of Michael J. Kelley, Boston, MA, for Plaintiff.
    Abraham R. George, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Boston, MA, for Defendant.
   MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

(Docket No. 12)

HILLMAN, DISTRICT JUDGE

Wayne Bernier (Plaintiff) brought this suit against Carolyn Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security (Defendant), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3), seeking review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social ’Security. On August 17, 2012, an administrative law judge (ALJ) issued a decision denying Plaintiffs' claim for disability benefits. Plaintiff requested review of this decision. On September'6,2013, the Appeals Council mailed Plaintiff and his representative each á copy of its notice of denial of Plaintiffs request for review of the ALJ’s decision. The Appeals Council included with this notice information regarding Plaintiffs right to commence a civil action within sixty days from the date of receipt of the notice. The parties agree that, pursuant to this timeline, Plaintiffs civil action was due to be filed on or before November 11,2013.

On November 8, 2013, Plaintiffs counsel wrote to the Appeals Council and requested a thirty:day extension of the time to file a civil action. Nothing in the filings, submitted to this Court suggest that Plaintiffs requested was granted. On December 16, 2013, Plaintiff filed a complaint with this Court, requesting review of the final decision of the Corpmissioner of Social Security. On September 30, 2014, Defendant moved to dismiss on the ground that Plaintiffs complaint was untimely.

42 U.S.C. § 405(g) provides that “[a]ny individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ... may obtain a review of such decision by a Civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow.” (emphasis added.) As noted above, there is nothing in this record to suggest that the Appeals Council granted Plaintiffs request for an extension of this sixty-day period. Plaintiffs complaint was, therefore, untimely.

For these reasons,. Defendant’s motion to dismiss (Docket No. 12) is granted, and Plaintiffs complaint is hereby dismissed.

SO ORDERED.