Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-00243/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-00243-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:0405id Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

---

1

16-cv-0243-BEN-JLB

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN WILLARD SNYDER,

Plaintiff,

v.

NANCY BERRYHILL, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

Case No.: 16-cv-0243-BEN-JLB

ORDER:

(1) ADOPTING REPORT AND 

RECOMMENDATION;

(2) GRANTING IN PART and 

DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT; 

(3) DENYING DEFENDANT’S 

CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT; and

(4) REMANDING ACTION FOR 

FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE 

PROCEEDINGS

Plaintiff John Willard Snyder filed this action seeking judicial review of the Social 

Security Commissioner’s1 denial of his application for disability insurance benefits. 

 

1 When Plaintiff initiated this action, Carolyn Colvin was serving as the Acting 

Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Nancy Berryhill is now serving as 

Case 3:16-cv-00243-BEN-JLB Document 27 Filed 06/14/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 3
2

16-cv-0243-BEN-JLB

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment, and Defendant filed a cross-motion for 

summary judgment and an opposition to Plaintiff’s motion.

On April 17, 2017, Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt issued a thoughtful and 

thorough Report and Recommendation, recommending that this Court grant in part and 

deny in part Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and deny Defendant’s crossmotion for summary judgment. Magistrate Judge Burkhardt found that the 

Administrative Law Judge failed to articulate clear and convincing reasons for 

discrediting Plaintiff’s testimony about the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of 

his symptoms. Magistrate Judge Burkhardt recommends remanding this action for 

further administrative proceedings. Objections to the Report and Recommendation were 

due May 2, 2017. Neither party has filed any objections. 

A district judge “may accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition” of a 

magistrate judge on a dispositive matter. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3); see also 28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(b)(1). “[T]he district judge must determine de novo any part of the [report and 

recommendation] that has been properly objected to.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). 

However, “[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); see also 

Wang v. Masaitis, 416 F.3d 992, 1000 n.13 (9th Cir. 2005). “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. 

The Court has considered and agrees with the Report and Recommendation. The 

Court ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation. (Docket No. 26). Plaintiff’s motion 

for summary judgment is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. (Docket No. 

17). Defendant’s cross-motion for summary judgment is DENIED. (Docket No. 19). 

 

the Acting Commissioner. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), Berryhill 

is automatically substituted as a party.

Case 3:16-cv-00243-BEN-JLB Document 27 Filed 06/14/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 3
3

16-cv-0243-BEN-JLB

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

This case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the Report and 

Recommendation. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 13, 2017

Case 3:16-cv-00243-BEN-JLB Document 27 Filed 06/14/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 3