Laws v. Barnhart

MEMORANDUM ^***

John M. Laws appeals the district court’s summary judgment affirming the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of his applications for Social Security disability insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court’s order upholding the Commissioner’s denial of social security benefits. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1279 (9th Cir.1996). The Commissioner’s decision must be upheld if it is supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error. Id. We affirm.

Laws contends that the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) analysis of his subjective complaints was deficient. This contention lacks merit. The ALJ properly rejected Laws’ testimony that excess pain rendered him permanently disabled. The ALJ offered specific, clear, and convincing reasons why he found Laws’ testimony regarding the extent of his pain to be not credible. See Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284.

Laws contends that the ALJ accorded insufficient deference to the medical opinion of his treating physician, Dr. Coats. This contention also lacks merit because the ALJ “set forth specific, legitimate reasons” for rejecting Dr. Coat’s opinion that Laws was permanently disabled. Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 604-605 (9th Cir.1989).

The ALJ’s hypothetical posed to the vocational expert was proper because it was supported by substantial evidence in the record. See Sample v. Schweiker, 694 F.2d 639, 644 (9th Cir.1982). Accordingly, substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s determination that Laws had the residual functional capacity to perform light work and, therefore, was not disabled within the meaning of the Act. See Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1279.

AFFIRMED.

*** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.