Hinkle v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2020 )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS STEVEN K. HINKLE, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) CIVIL NO. 19-cv-951-MAB1 ) COMMISSIONER of SOCIAL SECURITY, ) ) Defendant. ) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER BEATTY, Magistrate Judge: Before the Court is the parties’ Agreed Motion to Remand to the Commissioner. (Doc. 27). The parties ask that this case be remanded for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A sentence four remand (as opposed to a sentence six remand) depends upon a finding of error, and is itself a final, appealable order. See, Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89 (1991); Perlman v. Swiss Bank Corporation Comprehensive Disability Protection Plan, 195 F.3d 975, 978 (7th Cir. 1999). Upon a sentence four remand, judgment should be entered in favor of plaintiff. Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302-303 (1993). The parties agree that, upon remand, “the Appeals Council will instruct the Administrative Law Judge to further evaluate the opinion evidence from Dr. Gonzalez; obtain updated evidence from a medical expert; further evaluate the claimant’s residual 1 This case was assigned to the undersigned for final disposition upon consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(c). See, Docs. 11, 24. functional capacity; offer the claimant the opportunity for a hearing; and issue a new decision.” Plaintiff applied for disability benefits in June 2015. (Tr. 20). While recognizing that the agency has a full docket, the Court urges the Commissioner to expedite this case on remand. For good cause shown, the parties’ Agreed Motion to Remand to the Commissioner (Doc. 27) is GRANTED. The final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying plaintiff’s application for social security disability benefits is REVERSED and REMANDED to the Commissioner for rehearing and reconsideration of the evidence, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: March 20, 2020. s/ Mark A. Beatty MARK A. BEATTY UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE