Source: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nyndce/8:2017cv00280/109348/11
Timestamp: 2018-09-20 03:26:01
Document Index: 500223422

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 636', '§ 405', '§ 405', '§ 405', '§ 1383', '§ 1383', '§ 405', '§ 405', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 426', '§ 414', '§ 416', '§ 416']

MEMORANDUM-DECISION & ORDER: GRANTING the # 10 Motion to Dismiss in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12 for Marino v. Commissioner of Social Security :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Justia Dockets & Filings Second Circuit New York New York Northern District Court Marino v. Commissioner of Social Security Filing 11
Marino v. Commissioner of Social Security
MEMORANDUM-DECISION & ORDER: GRANTING the # 10 Motion to Dismiss in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) due to the Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction. The Clerk is directed to enter Judgment in favor of the defendant and close this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart on 10/6/2017. (Copy served upon the pro se plaintiff via mail) (jmb)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK LEO A. MARINO, Plaintiff, -v- Civ. No. 8:17-CV-280 (DJS)1 NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner of Social Security,2 Defendants. D APPEARANCES: OF COUNSEL: LEO A. MARINO Plaintiff, Pro Se 12-A-4360 Franklin Correctional Facility 62 Bare Hill Road P.O. Box 10 Malone, New York 12953 J SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Attorney for Defendant Office of Regional General Counsel Region II 26 Federal Plaza – Room 3904 New York, New York 10278 SERGEI ADEN, ESQ. DANIEL J. STEWART United States Magistrate Judge S 1 Upon the Plaintiff’s consent, the United States’s general consent, and in accordance with this District’s General Order 18, this matter has been referred to the undersigned to exercise full jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73. See Dkt. No. 6 & General Order 18. 2 Nancy A. Berryhill became Acting Commissioner of Social Security on January 23, 2017. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), Nancy A. Berryhill is substituted as the Defendant in this suit. MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER I. INTRODUCTION On March 10, 2017, pro se Plaintiff Leo A. Marino initiated this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying his application for disability benefits. See Dkt. No. 1, Compl. At that time, he sought, and the Court granted, his Application for in Forma Pauperis status. Dkt. Nos. 2 & 9. On June 15, 2017, D Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), arguing that because Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to entertain the action. Dkt. No. 10. A response to the Motion was due on July 17, 2017. To date, Plaintiff has failed to respond to the Motion or in any way communicate with this Court. Plaintiff’s continued inaction in this case could be an indication that he has abandoned his claim for relief. See N.D.N.Y.L.R. 41.2(a) (“[T]he plaintiff’s failure to take action for four (4) J months shall be presumptive evidence of lack of prosecution.”). However, I need not conjecture on Plaintiff’s desire to pursue this matter since I find that, as explained below, Defendant is entitled to the relief sought by her Motion, namely dismissal based on the Court’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction. II. DISCUSSION S A. Standard of Review “A case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when the district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it.” Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000) (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(1)). Federal courts are “duty bound . . . to address the issue of subject matter jurisdiction at the outset.” Filetech S.A. v. -2- France Telecom S.A., 157 F.3d 922, 929 (2d Cir. 1998). “In resolving the question of jurisdiction, the district court can refer to evidence outside the pleadings and the plaintiff asserting subject matter jurisdiction has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that [jurisdiction] exists.” Luckett v. Bure, 290 F.3d 493, 496-97 (2d Cir. 2002) (citing Malik v. Meissner, 82 F.3d 560, 562 (2d Cir. 1996)); see also Societe Nationale d’Exploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et Allumettes v. Salomon Bros. Int’l Ltd., 928 F. Supp. 398, 402 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (“[T]he Court need not accept as D true contested jurisdictional allegations and may resolve disputed jurisdictional facts by reference to affidavits and other materials outside the pleadings.”). B. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Absent Congressional consent to be sued, the United States is immune from suit and federal courts lack subject matter jurisdiction to entertain the suit. United States v. Mitchell, 445 U.S. 535, 538 (1980) (quoted in Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d at 113). Where the United States waives J sovereign immunity and consents to be sued, the terms of such consent define the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit. Id. In the case at bar, the express Congressional consent to suit can be found at 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which authorizes judicial review of cases arising under the Social Security Act.3 Section 405(g) provides: S Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security made after a hearing to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow. 3 According to the Defendant’s Motion, Plaintiff filed an Application for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). The same judicial review provided for in 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is applicable to SSI cases via 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3). See 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3) (“The final determination of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing under paragraph (1) shall be subject to judicial review as provided in section 405(g) of this title to the same extent as the Commissioner’s final determinations under section 405 of this title.”). -3- It is clear from this statute that judicial review is only permitted in accordance with the terms therein: The findings and decision of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing shall be binding upon all individuals who were parties to such hearing. No findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner of Social Security shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency except as herein provided. No action against the United States, the Commissioner of Social Security, or any officer or employee thereof shall be brought under section 1331 or 1346 of Title 28 to recover on any claim arising under this subchapter. 42 U.S.C. § 405(h). D The statute conferring subject matter jurisdiction to this Court clearly limits my review to a particular type of agency action, that being a “final decision of the Secretary made after a hearing[.]” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 108 (1977). The Social Security Regulations establishes several steps for the administrative review process. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1400. Only upon completion of theses steps will a final decision be rendered by the Commissioner such that judicial J review can be sought. Id. at § 416.1400(b). If a claimant fails to pursue administrative appeal rights, the administrative determination or decision becomes binding and may foreclose judicial review. Id. (“If you are dissatisfied with [the Commissioner’s] decision in the review process, but do not take the next step within the stated time period, you will lose your right to further administrative review and your right to judicial review . . . .”); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.1405, S 416.1421, 416.1455, & 416.1481. Pursuant to the Regulations, the four step administrative review process is as follows: 1) the claimant receives an initial determination, 20 C.F.R. § 416.1404; 2) if dissatisfied with this determination, the claimant may seek reconsideration, 20 C.F.R. § 416.1407; 3) if dissatisfied, the claimant may request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who will issue a written decision, 20 C.F.R. § 426.1429; and 4) if dissatisfied, the claimant may request that the Appeals -4- Council review the decision, 20 C.F.R. § 414.1466. The Appeals Council may deny review and allow the ALJ’s decision to stand as the final decision of the Commissioner, or may grant review and issue its own decision. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1467. Upon completion of all steps, the claimant will have received a final decision and may pursue judicial review by filing an action in federal court within sixty (60) days after receiving notice of the Appeals Council’s action. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1481. In the case at bar, Defendant asserts that Plaintiff failed to complete all steps of the D administrative review process prior to initiating the current federal action. In support of her Motion to Dismiss, Defendant attaches the Declaration of Nancy Chung, Chief of Court Case Preparation and Review Branch IV of the Office of Appellate Operations, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Social Security Administration. Dkt. No. 10-2. According to Ms. Chung, Plaintiff filed an Application for benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act on May 24, 2010. Id. at ¶ 3(a). Subsequently, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an ALJ, who, on September 20, 2013, J issued an unfavorable decision. Id. at ¶ 3(b). Plaintiff subsequently sought review with the Appeals Council, which was denied on July 2, 2014. Id. at ¶ 3(c). Thereafter, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the Northern District of New York, Civ. No. 8:14-CV-1033, and it was determined, on February 5, 2016, that the matter would be remanded back to the Agency for additional proceedings. Id. at ¶ 3(d). Pursuant to the Court’s Order, the Appeals Council remanded the case back to the ALJ on S May 2, 2016, and a hearing was scheduled for November 7, 2016. Id. at ¶ 3(f). According to Plaintiff, he learned advised the ALJ assigned to his case that he was incarcerated and was therefore prevented from attending the hearing. Dkt. No. 1 at ¶¶ 5-7. After informing the agency of his incarcerated status, Plaintiff filed this action asserting that he exhausted all his administrative remedies. Id. at ¶ 8. However, according to Defendant’s Motion, it appears that Plaintiff’s hearing -5- has been postponed, and Plaintiff’s case is still pending at the hearing level of the Agency awaiting the scheduling of another hearing. Id. In light of this information, it is clear that Plaintiff has not yet received a “final” decision of the Commissioner. Since no final decision is in existence, this Court lacks the subject matter jurisdiction to entertain this action and accordingly, the claim must be dismissed. Dietsch v. Schweiker, 700 F.2d 865, 867 (2d Cir. 1983) (noting that the Social Security Act establishes a D “comprehensive plan for administrative and judicial review of claims for disability benefits[ . . . and in accordance with the statute,] administrative procedures must be exhausted before judicial review is available.” (citations omitted)); Mendez v. Chater, 1997 WL 278056, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. May 22, 1997) (citing Weinberger v. Salfi, 422 U.S. 749, 766 (1975) for the proposition that a final decision is a “jurisdictional prerequisite for judicial review”). WHEREFORE, after due consideration being given, it is hereby J ORDERED, that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 10) is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) due to the lack of subject matter jurisdiction; and it is further ORDERED, that the Clerk of the Court serve a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order on the parties in accordance with the Local Rules. S IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: October 6, 2017 Albany, New York -6-