Significant Social Security Disability Cases

Federal Court Decisions

When a case is rejected at each appellate level of the Social Security Administration, it is sometimes appealed into the federal court system for judicial review. The following are brief summaries of some of the cases handed by our firm over the years.

1. Flores v. Massanari,Case Number 00-4334 (unreported) In this 2001 case, the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled that the Social Security Judge did not give sufficient consideration to the side effects of the medications taken by the claimant and remanded (ordered a new hearing) the case to the SSA.

2. Willis v. Apfel, 116 F Supp 2nd 971 (ND, Ill., 2000)

United States District Court remanded this claim due to Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) failure to adequately explain his conclusion to deny disability benefits. The case was additionally remanded for a new hearing to consider new evidence of the Claimant's knee problems.

3. Aidinovski v. Apfel, 27 F Supp 2nd 1097 (ND, Ill., 1998)

Case remanded for a new hearing due to ALJ's failure to adequately account for the Claimant's fibromyalgia. The ALJ failed to adequately consider the Claimant's credibility and the reports of her doctors.

4. Iwachniuk v. Chater, 926 F Supp 753 (ND, Ill., 1996)

Social Security Administration ordered to award disability benefits to Claimant who had residual functional capacity limitations resulting from impaired intellectual capabilities and dependent personality disorder. The ALJ's decision to reject findings of examining psychologists was not supported by substantial evidence.

5. Thompson v. Sullivan, 933 F 2nd 581 (7th Cir., 1991)

The case involved a disability Claimant who appeared at hearing without an attorney. The Administrative Law Judge did not adequately explain the Claimant's right to an attorney and did not completely develop the Administrative Record for the unrepresented Claimant. The case was reversed and remanded for a new hearing by the Court of Appeals.

6. Miyoshi v. Bowen, 696 F Supp 346 (ND, Ill., 1988)

Social Security Administration ordered by District Court to award disability benefits to the Claimant. The ALJ's finding that the Claimant did not suffer from disabling headaches was unsupported by substantial evidence. Case confirmed that headaches could be disabling under the Social Security and SSI laws.

7. Banks v. Bowen, 672 F Supp 310 (ND, Ill., 1987)

Decision of Social Security Administration to deny disability benefits was overturned and the case was remanded for a new hearing. The ALJ was required to explain why favorable medical evidence was rejected. ALJ was directed to obtain additional evidence as to the Claimant's arthritis.

8. Scott v. Heckler, 768 F 2nd 172 (7th Cir., 1985)

Award of benefits by Administrative Law Judge was reversed on own motion review by the Appeals Council. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Appeals Council did not have grounds for reviewing the decision of the Administrative Law Judge and ordered an award of benefits.