LUGO
v.
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

S.D. Fla. | 2025-03-04
No. 21-60040-CIV
2025 FFL 5244 District Court, S.D. Florida (2025)

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Synopsis

Lugo appealed the Social Security Administration's denial of her benefits claim. The district court adopted the magistrate judge's recommendation and affirmed the Commissioner's decision, rejecting Lugo's arguments for reversal.


Holding

The district court affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision and granted the Commissioner's motion for summary judgment, rejecting Lugo's arguments for reversal.


Headnotes

[1] An appellate court may affirm a lower court judgment by adopting the reasoning and factual findings contained in the lower court's written opinion without repeating such…

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Key Quotes

“A district court may accept, reject, or modify a magistrate judge's report and recommendation. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).”

Establishes the legal standard for district court review of magistrate judge recommendations

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Facts & Procedural History

Plaintiff Marines Lugo filed for Social Security benefits and received an unfavorable decision from an Administrative Law Judge. Lugo moved for summar…

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Opinion of the Court

This matter is before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation (the “Report”) [DE 28] of the Honorable Alicia O. Valle, U.S. Magistrate Judge, on Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 24] and Defendant's Response [DE 26] and Defendant's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 25]. In her thorough and well-reasoned Report, Judge Valle recommends that: the Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment be denied, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment be granted, and the Administrative Law Judge's Decision be affirmed. Plaintiff filed objections to the Report [DE 29], essentially repeating her initial arguments to the Magistrate Judge. Defendant filed a response to the objections [DE 30].

A district court may accept, reject, or modify a magistrate judge's report and recommendation. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Those portions of the report and recommendation to which objections are made are accorded de novo review, if those objections “pinpoint the specific findings that the party disagrees with.” United States v. Schultz, 565 F. 3d 1353, 1360 (11th Cir. 2009); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). Any portions of the report and recommendation to which no specific objection is made are reviewed only for clear error. Liberty Am. Ins. Grp., Inc. v. WestPoint Underwriters, L.L.C., 199 F. Supp. 2d 1271, 1276 (M.D. Fla. 2001); accord Macort v. Prem, Inc., 208 F. App'x 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006).

The Court, having considered Judge Valle's Report, Plaintiff's objections thereto, and having conducted a de novo review of the record, agrees with Judge Valle's well-reasoned analysis and her recommendations. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that:

1) The Report and Recommendation [DE 28] is AFFIRMED and ADOPTED and incorporated by reference into this Court's Order.

2) Defendant Martin O'Malley, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 25] be GRANTED.

3) Plaintiff Marines Lugo's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 24] be DENIED.

4) The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration's decision is

AFFIRMED.

5) This case is CLOSED.

DONE and ORDERED in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this 3rd day of March, 2025.

RODNEY SMITH

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

cc: All counsel of record


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