Court Opinion

ID: 38048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 20:02:12+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:52.272239
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                              F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                   April 11, 2005

                                                           Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                   Clerk
                            No. 04-60551
                          Summary Calendar

ANNIE L. KNIGHT,

                                     Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

                                     Defendant-Appellee.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
            for the Southern District of Mississippi
                     USDC No. 2:00-CV-42-PG
                      --------------------

Before DAVIS, SMITH, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Annie L. Knight appeals from the district court’s judgment

affirming the Commissioner of Social Security’s decision denying

disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) and Supplemental Security

Income (“SSI”).    The Commissioner concluded that she was disabled

as of August 12, 1997, but, because Knight’s was “last insured”

on June 30, 1996, she was not entitled to benefits.     See Loza v.

Apfel, 219 F.3d 378, 394 (5th Cir. 2000).    On September 14, 1995,

the Commissioner had denied Knight’s first application for DIB

and SSI, wherein she had alleged a disability-onset date of

     *
       Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
                           No. 04-60551
                                -2-

October 1, 1995.   Although in the instant case Knight again

asserted that her disability-onset date was October 1, 1992,

the Commissioner ruled that the first administrative decision was

res judicata as to the period before and including September 14,

1995.

     For the first time on appeal, Knight argues that the

Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) erred in concluding that the

prior administrative decision was res judicata as to the period

before and including September 14, 1995.   Arguments raised for

the first time on appeal are not reviewed absent “exceptional

circumstances,” see Castillo v. Barnhart, 325 F.3d 550, 553

(5th Cir. 2003), which Knight has not alleged.   In any event,

absent a “colorable constitutional claim,” an ALJ’s dismissal of

a claimant’s case on res judicata grounds is “unreviewable.”

Brandyburg v. Sullivan, 959 F.2d 555, 561 (5th Cir. 1992).

Knight has not asserted a colorable constitutional claim.

     Knight also argues that the ALJ failed to follow several

Social Security rulings and “established Social Security law,”

that the decision was not supported by substantial evidence,

that the ALJ erroneously assessed her credibility, and that the

ALJ arbitrarily determined that she was disabled as of August 12,

1997, when the record reflected that her condition was no

different on that date than the date before.   After reviewing the

briefs and the record, we conclude that the ALJ applied the

correct legal standards and that the decision was supported by
                           No. 04-60551
                                -3-

substantial evidence.   See Greenspan v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 232, 237

(5th Cir. 1994).

     Knight’s October 18, 2004, “Motion to Submit Additional

Excerpts” is DENIED as unnecessary.

     AFFIRMED; MOTION DENIED.