David W. Christel
How Judge Christel rules, drawn from 8 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Christel 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 requires specific, clear, and convincing reasons before a claimant's subjective testimony is rejected; a bare recitation of medical evidence will not survive review.
“In only providing a recitation of the medical evidence, the ALJ failed to identify which testimony is inconsistent or unsupported and why Plaintiff's testimony is not credited based upon the alleged inconsistencies.”
An immediate benefits award may be warranted when the credit-as-true requirements are met and years of repeated administrative errors show that another remand would serve no useful purpose.
“With every remand, the record in the case appears to have become more convoluted with little apparent benefit.”
Procedural preferences
On reversal, he applies the default rule of remanding for further administrative proceedings rather than ordering benefits, except in rare circumstances.
“Generally, when the Court reverses an ALJ's decision, 'the proper course, except in rare circumstances, is to remand to the agency for additional investigation or explanation.'”
A prior remand decision does not necessarily make every accompanying evidentiary observation law of the case when an independent constitutional defect required a new hearing and the earlier observations were not necessary to that result.
“The Court declines to apply the law of the case doctrine here.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, Defendant's decision to deny benefits is reversed and this matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g) in accordance with this Order.”
“ORDER signed by Judge David W. Christel. The Commissioner's final decision is REVERSED and this case is REMANDED for further administrative proceedings.”
In a referred self-represented case, Judge Christel recommended denying the application to proceed without prepaying fees and dismissing for failure to state a claim. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright adopted the recommendation on November 8, 2024.
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court REVERSES and REMANDS the decision pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings, including a de novo hearing before an ALJ that has not previously considered this matter.”
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby finds the ALJ did not err in determining that Plaintiff is not disabled, and therefore affirms the ALJ’s decision to deny benefits.”
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court accepts Defendant’s concession that the ALJ improperly concluded Plaintiff was not disabled. Accordingly, Defendant’s decision to deny benefits is reversed and this matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings in accordance with the findings contained herein.”
“Accordingly, this matter is reversed and remanded pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to the Commissioner of Social Security for an immediate award of benefits.”
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby finds the ALJ improperly concluded Plaintiff was not disabled for the period at issue. Accordingly, Defendant’s decision to deny benefits is reversed and this matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings in accordance with the findings contained herein.”
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