Benjamin Lucas v. Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio accepts the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation because no clear error appears on the record. The court vacates the Commissioner of Social Security’s decision and remands the case for further consideration of Dr. Karin Worrell’s opinion.

Holdings

1. When no timely objection is filed to a magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation, the district court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record before accepting the recommendation.
2. The Report and Recommendation was accepted, the Commissioner's final decision was vacated, and the case was remanded for further consideration of Dr. Karin Worrell's opinion.

Questions Presented

1. What standard of review applies when no party objects to a magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation?
2. Whether the magistrate judge's recommendation to vacate the Commissioner's final decision and remand for further consideration of Dr. Worrell's opinion should be accepted.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded