Michael G. Gotsch Sr.
Judge Gotsch no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Gotsch decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security appeals, he remands when the ALJ's step-two or step-three findings, or the residual functional capacity determination, are not supported by substantial evidence -- he does not require the claimant to show the ALJ would necessarily have reached a different result, only that the analysis itself was inadequately explained.
“Court CONCLUDES that the Administrative Law Judge's Step Two analysis was not supported with substantial evidence.”
He will affirm the Commissioner even in a claimant-favorable factual record where the ALJ's underlying reasoning traces a supportable path through the evidence, applying sentence-four deferential review rather than re-weighing the medical record himself.
“The Administrative Law Judge's finding that Plaintiff Adam J Stewart's disability ended on November 15, 2011, pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), is AFFIRMED.”
Procedural preferences
On cross summary-judgment records in civil-rights suits he rules claim-by-claim and defendant-by-defendant rather than issuing a single blended disposition, letting individually strong claims against some defendants proceed to trial while dismissing weaker claims and defendants in the same order.
“GRANTED as to Plaintiffs unlawful entry claim as it pertains to Defendant Corban; DENIED as to Plaintiffs unlawful entry claim as it pertains to Defendants Holcomb and Lawson-Rulli”
In habeas cases he resolves petitions on the pleadings where a threshold defect is dispositive -- untimeliness or mootness following a rehearing -- without reaching the merits of the underlying disciplinary claim, and denies a certificate of appealability as a matter of course once the petition is dismissed on that basis.
“The Court DISMISSES the petition 1 because the claims are untimely, DENIES Clinton Davis, a certificate of appealability pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 11”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“OPINION AND ORDER: The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Clerk DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/20/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Plaintiff Christopher J Keenan's request to remand this case is GRANTED. This case is REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Judge Michael G Gotsch Sr on 9/12/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court now GRANTS Gillespie's request to remand this case. This case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/4/2016.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court REMANDS this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 11/22/2016.”
“OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING 35 MOTION (First) for Attorney Fees Pursuant to EAJA by Plaintiff James K Green ... Defendant Commissioner of Social Security ORDERED to pay to Plaintiff James K Green $10,032.00 for attorney's fees ... Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 4/19/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER DENYING 15 MOTION for Reversal or Remand filed by Daniel Joseph Anderson. The Commissioner of Social Security's decision pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is AFFIRMED. Clerk DIRECTED to term this case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/20/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is REVERSED pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and this case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to term this case and enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff Kathaleen Lehman and against Defendant Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 1/31/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Administrative Law Judge's finding that Plaintiff Adam J Stewart's disability ended on November 15, 2011, pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), is AFFIRMED. Clerk DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security and against Plaintiff Adam J Stewart. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 3/31/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Court CONCLUDES that the Administrative Law Judge's Step Two analysis was not supported with substantial evidence. This case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to terminate this case in favor of Plaintiff Nancy Singleton. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 4/4/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: DENIES 16 Plummer's motion for remand. This Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Clerk is instructed to term the case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/4/2017.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision pursuant to sentence four of 42 USC § 405(g). The Clerk is instructed to term the case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 12/13/2017.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Court REVERSES the decision of the Commissioner, and REMANDS this matter to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 3/30/2018.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 366 days (N = 16).
A historical record
Judge Gotsch no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.