Cousins v. Social Security ( 2020 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION TALETHA MICHELLE COUSINS, Plaintiff, Case No. 19-cv-10996 Hon. Matthew F. Leitman v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant. __________________________________________________________________/ ORDER (1) GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF No. 15), (2) DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF No. 18), AND (3) REMANDING THIS ACTION FOR FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS In this action, Plaintiff Taletha Michelle Cousins challenges the denial of her application for Disability Insurance Benefits. (See Compl., ECF No. 1.) Cousins and Defendant Commissioner of Social Security have now filed cross-motions for summary judgment. (See Mots., ECF Nos. 15, 18.) On May 20, 2020, the assigned Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation in which he recommended that the Court grant Cousins’s motion in part, deny the Commissioner’s motion, and remand this action to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings (the “R&R”). (See R&R, ECF No. 20.) At the conclusion of the R&R, the Magistrate Judge informed the parties that if they wanted to seek review of his recommendation, they needed to file specific objections with the Court within fourteen days. (See id., PageID.702-703.) Neither party has filed any objections to the R&R. The failure to object to an R&R releases the Court from its duty to independently review the matter. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). In addition, the failure to file objections to an R&R waives any further right to appeal. See Howard v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 932 F.2d 505 (6th Cir. 1991); Smith v. Detroit Fed’n of Teachers Local 231, 829 F.2d 1370, 1373 (6th Cir. 1987). Accordingly, because the parties have not filed any objections to the R&R, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation to grant Cousins’s Motion for Summary Judgment in part and deny the Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment is ADOPTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that (1) Cousins’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 15) is GRANTED IN PART as set forth in the R&R, (2) the Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 18) is DENIED, and (3) this action is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings consistent with the R&R and this order. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Matthew F. Leitman MATTHEW F. LEITMAN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Dated: July 8, 2020 I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the parties and/or counsel of record on July 8, 2020, by electronic means and/or ordinary mail. s/Holly A. Monda Case Manager (810) 341-9764