Friddle v. Heckler, 83-1811
| Decision Date | 07 November 1983 |
| Docket Number | No. 83-1811,83-1811 |
| Citation | 720 F.2d 24 |
| Parties | Richard FRIDDLE, Appellant, v. Margaret HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit |
David L. Rush, Walters & Rush, Greenwood, Ark., R.H. "Buddy" Hixson, Hixson, Cleveland & Rush, Paris, Ark., for appellant.
J. Paul McGrath, Asst. Atty. Gen., Washington, D.C., W. Asa Hutchinson, U.S. Atty., Mark W. Webb, Asst. U.S. Atty., Fort Smith, Ark., Joseph S. Friedman, Trial Atty., Social Security Div., Dept. of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Md., for appellee.
Before HEANEY, BRIGHT and McMILLIAN, Circuit Judges.
Richard Friddle appeals from an order of the District Court 1 for the Western District of Arkansas dismissing his complaint seeking review of a final decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) terminating his disability benefits. The district court dismissed the complaint because it had not been filed within the sixty-day period provided for in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 405(g). For reversal Friddle argues that the Secretary extended the statutory filing period when she considered additional medical evidence submitted by Friddle after the final administrative decision by the Appeals Council. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.
By letter and decision dated April 20, 1982, the Appeals Council notified Friddle that he was no longer entitled to supplemental security income (SSI) disability benefits. 2 The letter stated that if Friddle desired judicial review of the decision he must file suit in federal district court within sixty days of his receipt of the letter and that receipt of the letter would be presumed to be within five days of the date of the letter. See 20 C.F.R. Sec. 422.210(c). On May 4, 1982, Friddle submitted additional medical evidence to the Appeals Council. By letter dated June 22, 1982, the Appeals Council acknowledged receipt and consideration of the evidence but informed Friddle that the evidence did not provide a basis for vacating its previous decision. The letter concluded by stating, "Accordingly, the decision dated April 20, 1982, stands as the final decision of the Secretary."
On July 8, 1982, Friddle filed his complaint in district court seeking review of the Secretary's final decision. Friddle alleged that the final decision occurred on June 22, 1982. The Secretary filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, alleging that the final decision occurred on April 20, 1982, and that Friddle's complaint was therefore untimely.
The Social Security Act provides in pertinent part that "[a]ny individual, after any final decision of the Secretary ... may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further time as the Secretary may allow." 42 U.S.C. Sec. 405(g). The social security regulations provide that the Secretary may extend the time for filing of a suit seeking review if a claimant makes a written request with the Appeals Council stating the reasons for failure to file within the statutory period. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 416.1482. If good cause has been shown, the Appeals Council will extend the time period. Id. See 20 C.F.R. Sec. 416.1411 ().
In this case, Friddle argues that when the Appeals Council considered the additional evidence he had submitted, the Council in effect granted him an extension of time in which to file his complaint. Friddle relies on Funderburk v. Califano, 432 F.Supp. 657 (W.D.N.C.1977). In Funderburk the district court held that the Secretary had waived the sixty-day filing period when the Appeals Council invited a claimant to submit additional information Id. at 659.
In Biron v. Harris, 668 F.2d 259 (6th Cir.1982) (per curiam), a disability claimant presented an almost identical...
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