Alan C. Torgerson

U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico magistrate Retired 2018 3 signed orders read

Judge Torgerson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Torgerson decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

On Social Security appeals he recommends remand where the ALJ rejects a treating physician's assessment on the ALJ's own lay speculation and instead gives controlling weight to a non-examining state-agency consultant (Robinson/Watkins).

“For the reasons discussed above, I recommend finding that Plaintiff's Motion to Reverse or Remand [Doc. 20] be granted.”

Cautions

Torgerson applies the five Ehrenhaus v. Reynolds factors and recommends dismissal with prejudice as a Rule 16(f)/37(b) sanction where a pro se plaintiff repeatedly fails to submit required reports, ignores a motion to compel, and disobeys warning orders.

“I recommend that Plaintiff's Complaint be dismissed with prejudice.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Wilson v. United States (and Dr. Israel Penney)
6:06-cv-01261-BB-ACT · 2008-01-02
Involuntary dismissal (court) Granted

“I recommend that Plaintiff's Complaint be dismissed with prejudice.”

Keller v. New Mexico Department of Health, Division of Health Improvement
6:09-cv-00960-BB-ACT · 2012-07-03
Review taxation of costs (plaintiff) Granted

“I recommend that Plaintiff's Motion to Review District Clerk's Costs [Doc. 74] be granted.”

Jaramillo v. Astrue (Commissioner of Social Security)
1:11-cv-00906-JB-ACT · 2013-11-04
Social security review (plaintiff) Granted

“For the reasons discussed above, I recommend finding that Plaintiff's Motion to Reverse or Remand [Doc. 20] be granted.”

A historical record

Judge Torgerson 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.