Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_24-cv-05141/USCOURTS-arwd-5_24-cv-05141-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

BRITTANY SKAGGS PLAINTIFF

v. CIVIL NO. 24-5141

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,

1 Commissioner

Social Security Administration DEFENDANT

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Plaintiff, Brittany Skaggs, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial 

review of a decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (Commissioner) 

denying her application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (DIB) under the 

provisions of Titles II of the Social Security Act (Act). (ECF No. 2). The Defendant filed the 

administrative transcript on August 29, 2024. (ECF No. 7). 

On December 30, 2024, the Commissioner filed an unopposed motion to remand Plaintiff's 

case pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g) in order to conduct further administrative 

proceedings. (ECF No. 17). 

The exclusive methods by which a district court may remand a social security case to the 

Commissioner are set forth in "sentence four" and "sentence six" of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A remand 

pursuant to "sentence six" is limited to two situations: where the Commissioner requests a remand 

before answering the complaint, or where the court orders the Commissioner to consider new, 

1 Carolyn W. Colvin, has been appointed to serve as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security 

Administration, and is substituted as Defendant pursuant to Rule 25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure.

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material evidence that was for good cause not presented before the agency. The fourth sentence 

of the statute provides that "[t]he court shall 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." 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Shalala 

v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 296 (1993). 

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends granting the Commissioner's 

unopposed motion to reverse the decision of the ALJ and remanding this case to the Commissioner 

for further administrative action pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g). The parties have 

fourteen days from receipt of our report and recommendation in which to file written 

objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely objections may result 

in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties are reminded that objections 

must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the district court.

DATED this 2nd day of January 2025. 

 

/s/____________________________________ 

 CHRISTY COMSTOCK

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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