Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00862/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00862-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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- 1 - 06CV0862 WHQ (JMA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARIBEL ROSARIO CASTILLO,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 06CV0862 WHQ (JMA)

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND

RECOMMENDATION AND

REMANDING

vs.

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, Commissioner,

Social Security Administration,

Defendant.

HAYES, Judge:

Pending before the Court is the Report and Recommendation (Doc # 13) of Magistrate

Judge Jan M. Adler, filed on May 17, 2007, recommending that the Court grant Plaintiff’s

Motion for Remand (Doc #7) and deny Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment

(Doc #11).

BACKGROUND

On May 14, 2004, Plaintiff Maribel Castillo filed an application for Supplemental

Security Income disability benefits pursuant to Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.

§ 423. On September 16, 2004, the Social Security Administration denied Plaintiff’s

application. Admin. Record at 25-27. On March 25, 2005, the Social Security Administration

denied Plaintiff’s application on reconsideration. Admin. Record at 25-38. On April 27, 2005,

Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Admin. Record at

39.

Case 3:06-cv-00862-WQH-JMA Document 16 Filed 08/03/07 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 06CV0862 WHQ (JMA)

On November 16, 2005, an ALJ held a hearing on Plaintiff’s application, and on

December 20, 2005, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff was not disabled and denied benefits.

Admin. Record at 15-24. On March 17, 2006, the Appeals Council affirmed the decision of

the ALJ. Admin. Record at 4.

On April 12, 2006, Plaintiff commenced the instant action for judicial review and

remedy of the Social Security Administration’s final administrative decision pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. # 1, 10). On March 17, 2007, Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler issued

the Report and Recommendation, recommending that the case be remanded to the Social

Security Administration for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. # 13). No party filed an

objection to the Report and Recommendation. 

RULING OF THE COURT

When reviewing the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, a district

court, "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations

made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). This Court has reviewed the Report

and Recommendation and concludes that the Magistrate Judge correctly determined that the

record does not support the ALJ’s implicit rejection of, and failure to adequately discuss, the

opinions of Plaintiff’s treating and examining doctors. Dismissing treating and examining

doctors’ reports with only cursory discussion does not constitute specific and legitimate

reasons for disregarding them. See Winans v. Bowen, 853 F.2d 643, 647 (9th Cir. 1987). 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate

Judge (Doc. # 13) is adopted in its entirety; Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand (Doc. # 8) is

granted; and Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 11) is denied. The action

is remanded to the Social Security Administration for further administrative proceedings.

DATED: August 3, 2007

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00862-WQH-JMA Document 16 Filed 08/03/07 Page 2 of 2