Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02513/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02513-1/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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 Citations are to the Administrative Record and use the internal pagination which

appears in the upper right hand corner of each page.

- 1 - 09cv2513 WQH (WMc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANTHONY JOHN FAVALE,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 09cv2513 WQH (WMc)

ORDER

vs.

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of

Social Security Administration,

Defendant.

HAYES, Judge:

The matters before the Court are the Motion to Remand filed by Plaintiff Anthony John

Favale (Doc. # 13), the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Michael J. Astrue

(Doc. # 14), and the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Doc. # 16). 

BACKGROUND

On July 17, 2006, Plaintiff applied for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

alleging he has been disabled since December 18, 1993. (Doc. # 6 at AR 23.)1

 Plaintiff

subsequently amended his date of disability to April 25, 2006. Id. at 88. On May 26, 2009,

the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found that Plaintiff was not entitled to disability

benefits. Id. at 10-17. On September 8, 2009, the Appeals Council adopted the ALJ’s

findings. Id. at 1. On November 9, 2009, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Judicial Review and

Remedy on an Administrative Decision under the Social Security Act. (Doc. # 1). On April

23, 2010, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Remand. (Doc. # 13). On May 20, 2010, Defendant filed

a Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. # 14). 

Case 3:09-cv-02513-WQH-WMC Document 17 Filed 08/30/10 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 09cv2513 WQH (WMc)

On July 14, 2010, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”)

which recommends that this Court deny Plaintiff’s motion and grant Defendant’s motion.

(Doc. # 16 at 2). The R&R concludes the ALJ properly rejected the opinion of Plaintiff’s

treating psychologist because it was not supported by objective evidence and was contradicted

by Plaintiff’s treating psychiatrist’s opinion. Id. at 6. Neither party objected to the R&R.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The duties of the district court in connection with the Report and Recommendation of

a Magistrate Judge are set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b) and 28 U.S.C.

§ 636(b). The district judge must “make a de novo determination of those portions of the

report ... to which objection is made,” and “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part,

the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). The district

court need not review de novo those portions of a Report and Recommendation to which

neither party objects. See Wang v. Masaitis, 416 F.3d 992, 1000 n.13 (9th Cir. 2005); U.S. v.

Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121-22 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc). 

The ALJ’s decision denying benefits “will be disturbed only if that decision is not

supported by substantial evidence or it is based upon legal error.” Tidwell v. Apfel, 161 F.3d

599, 601 (9th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted). “Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla

but less than a preponderance.” Id. (citation omitted).

DISCUSSION

The Court has reviewed the R&R and the administrative record. The Court concludes

that the Magistrate Judge correctly determined that the ALJ properly rejected Plaintiff’s

treating psychologist’s opinion. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation

(Doc. # 16) is adopted in its entirety. Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand (Doc. # 13) is DENIED.

Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 14) is GRANTED.

DATED: August 30, 2010

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:09-cv-02513-WQH-WMC Document 17 Filed 08/30/10 Page 2 of 2