Federal Court Win

Yesterday, District Court Judge Ann Donnelly rejected the decision of administrative law judge (“ALJ”) Sommattie Ramrup, who had denied Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits to my client, who was a petition clerk from Brooklyn, and who suffers from depression. 

Judge Donnelly concluded that ALJ Ramrup had cherry picked medical findings as an excuse to substitute her judgment for the opinions of the claimant’s psychiatrists. Judge Donnelly indicated that the claimant met listing 12.04, but remanded the case anyway so the ALJ can “”re-evaluate” the treating psychiatrists’ opinions. Judge Donnelly also indicated that if ALJ Ramrup does not find that the claimant meets listing 12.04, then she must ensure that the hypothetical question she poses to a vocational expert reflects the claimant’s actual limitations.

 

Whether you are thinking of applying for SSD, or have applied on your own and realize you need an attorney who specializes in disability, please feel free to call my office for a free telephone consultation.  We are conveniently located on Long Island in both Nassau and Suffolk counties.