Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00582/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00582-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Jeff A. Baird, D.O., 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social

Security Administration, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV 11-00582-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it plaintiff's motion to remand (doc. 13), defendant's objection

(doc. 14), and plaintiff's reply (doc. 15). Plaintiff requests remand to the Social Security

Administration pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). This statute provides for judicial review and

requires the Commissioner to "file a certified copy of the transcript of the record including

the evidence upon which the findings and decision complained of are based." 42 U.S.C. §

405(g).

42 U.S.C. § 405(g) provides two methods by which we may remand. Pursuant to

sentence four, we "have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a

judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social

Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing." § 405(g). A sentence-six

remand may be ordered "where the [Commissioner] requests a remand before answering the

complaint, or where new, material evidence is adduced that was for good cause not presented

Case 2:11-cv-00582-HRH Document 17 Filed 12/23/11 Page 1 of 2
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before the agency." Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 297 n.2, 113 S. Ct. 2625, 2629 n.2

(1993). "[I]n § 405(g) actions, remand orders must either accompany a final judgment

affirming, modifying, or reversing the administrative decision in accordance with sentence

four, or conform with the requirements outlined by Congress in sentence six." Melkonyan

v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89, 101-02, 111 S. Ct. 2157, 2165 (1991).

Sentence four authorizes us to enter judgment with or without a remand order, not a

remand order with or without a judgment. Schaefer, 509 U.S. at 297, 113 S. Ct. at 2629. A

remand under this sentence must include entry of judgment after considering the

administrative record. In this case, plaintiff requested reservation of a sentence four

argument, so it is premature to enter judgment.

The plaintiff, not the Commissioner, requests remand in this case, and does so after

the Commissioner has already answered. There is also no showing of new, material

evidence. Medical expert Grodan's testimony is filled with inaudible portions. These

portions are immaterial, though. Many of the partial quotations are understandable,

particularly in light of the fact that the ALJ or plaintiff's counsel asked him to repeat an

answer or rephrased his testimony. E.g., Tr. at 90 l. 25, 94 ll. 5-13, 98 ll. 3-7. In addition,

the ALJ's decision is supported by the understandable portion of Grodan's testimony and

other evidence in the record. See Drejka v. Comm'r of Social Security, 61 F. App'x 778, 783-

84 (3rd Cir. 2003) (remand unnecessary because "inaudibles" were immaterial, as the rest of

the vocational expert's testimony supported the ALJ's finding that plaintiff was not disabled).

Sentence six of § 405(g), therefore, is inapplicable. 

IT IS ORDERED DENYING plaintiff's motion to remand (doc. 13).

DATED this 22nd day of December, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-00582-HRH Document 17 Filed 12/23/11 Page 2 of 2