Opinion ID: 451980
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Right to Full and Fair Hearing

Text: 7 When an unrepresented claimant unfamiliar with administrative hearing procedures appears before an ALJ, the ALJ is under an obligation to develop a full and fair record; i.e. the record must disclose that there has been a full and fair hearing. Clark v. Schweiker, 652 F.2d 399, 404 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981); 2 Ware v. Schweiker, 651 F.2d 408, 414 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 912, 102 S.Ct. 1263, 71 L.Ed.2d 452 (1982). Appellant contends that he was not granted a full and fair hearing. He asserts that his abbreviated hearing was characterized by superficial questioning in which the ALJ failed to conscientiously inquire into and develop all salient facts regarding his medical problems and symptoms. 8 We agree that appellant's hearing was less than totally satisfactory. Questioning was somewhat brief and superficial, and the ALJ would have been recommended to inquire further into appellant's medical problems and physical capabilities. 9 However, a showing of prejudice must be made before we will find that a hearing violated claimant's rights of due process and requires a remand to the Secretary for reconsideration. 3 Smith, 677 F.2d at 829; Ware, 651 F.2d at 414. This at least requires a showing that the ALJ did not have all of the relevant evidence before him in the record (which would include relevant testimony from claimant), or that the ALJ did not consider all of the evidence in the record in reaching his decision. See Smith, 677 F.2d at 830 (relevant inquiry is whether the record reveals evidentiary gaps which result in unfairness or clear prejudice). 10 In the instant case there has been no showing of prejudice or unfairness resulting from appellant's lack of counsel or the abbreviated hearing. The assertion that appellant might have benefited from a more extensive hearing is pure speculation. Appellant makes no allegations that the record considered by the ALJ as a whole was incomplete or inadequate. The ALJ opinion was quite thorough, indicating that the entire record was considered. There is no allegation that the presence of an attorney or a more thorough hearing would have brought forth any additional evidence beneficial to appellant. In short, the record as a whole reveals that no relevant facts, documents, or other evidence was omitted from the ALJ's consideration or his findings. Smith, 677 F.2d at 830.