Justia Public Benefits Opinion Summaries

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the school district in an action under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), alleging that the school district failed to provide plaintiff, a former student, with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The court held that the school district committed a procedural violation of the IDEA by failing to respond to parents' requests and conduct a timely evaluation of whether the student was eligible for special education or related services. Nonetheless, plaintiff failed to show that this defect in the process had an adverse effect on his education. Therefore, plaintiff was not actually deprived of a FAPE. View "T.B. v. Prince George's County Board of Education" on Justia Law

The Fourth Circuit vacated the Social Security Administration's denial of plaintiff's application for disability insurance benefits. The court held that the ALJ erred by not according adequate weight to a prior disability determination by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Accordingly, the court remanded the case with instructions to vacate the denial of benefits and remanded for further administrative proceedings. View "Woods v. Berryhill" on Justia Law

The Fourth Circuit vacated the Social Security Administration's denial of plaintiff's application for disability insurance benefits. The court held that the ALJ erred by not according adequate weight to a prior disability determination by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Accordingly, the court remanded the case with instructions to vacate the denial of benefits and remanded for further administrative proceedings. View "Woods v. Berryhill" on Justia Law

The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's judgment affirming the denial of disability benefits to plaintiff. The court agreed with plaintiff and held that the ALJ improperly assessed the medical opinion evidence and disregarded the treating physician rule in rendering his residual functioning capacity (RFC) determination and finding that plaintiff could persist through an eight-hour workday. Accordingly, the court remanded for further proceedings. View "Brown v. Commissioner Social Security Administration" on Justia Law

Plaintiff appealed the denial of her application for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. The Fourth Circuit held that the ALJ did not give appropriate weight to the opinions of plaintiff's treating physicians and failed to adequately explain his decision to deny her benefits. Accordingly, the court vacated and remanded for further proceedings. View "Lewis v. Berryhill" on Justia Law