Trujillo v. Richardson

• Decision Date: 20 August 1970
• Docket Number: No. 150-70.,150-70.
• Parties: William TRUJILLO, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Eliot L. RICHARDSON, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit

429 F.2d 1149 (1970)

William TRUJILLO, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Eliot L. RICHARDSON, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 150-70.

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

August 20, 1970.

Gerald P. McDermott, Denver, Colo., filed a memorandum in opposition to summary affirmance on behalf of appellant.

James L. Treece, U. S. Atty., filed a memorandum supporting summary affirmance on behalf of appellee.

Before LEWIS, Chief Judge, PICKETT, Circuit Judge, and KERR, District Judge.

PER CURIAM.

William Trujillo commenced this action to obtain judicial review, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), of the determination of the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare that he was not entitled to disability insurance benefits or a determination of a period of disability. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Secretary.

As the district court recognized, the function of judicial review under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is to determine whether the findings of fact of the Secretary are based upon substantial evidence, and inferences reasonably drawn therefrom. If they are so supported, they are conclusive upon the reviewing court and may not be disturbed. Atteberry v. Finch, 424 F.2d 36 (10th Cir. 1970). Jones v. Finch, 416 F.2d 89 (10th Cir. 1969); McMillin v. Gardner, 384 F.2d 596 (10th Cir. 1967); Gardner v. Brian, 369 F.2d 443 (10th Cir. 1966).

Trujillo, a resident of Denver, Colorado, was born in 1933, and has an eighth-grade education. His occupational history consists of relatively unskilled physical labor. From 1949 to 1962, he worked at a canning factory as a process foreman, operating a grinder. This job ended when his employer died. He then worked for three and one-half years, until some time in 1965, as a metal sorter at a metal salvage yard. His last employment was also in 1965, operating a metal bailer or press at another junk yard. This lasted only two weeks for he was dismissed after suffering a convulsive seizure at work. Although the dates are not clear, he apparently worked briefly, also in 1965, at short-lived seasonal employment as a laborer at a vinegar company, and in flood-cleanup operations. Since his last job, he has made no effort to find other employment.

Trujillo suffers two physical infirmities; epilepsy and a fusion of the left wrist. Dr. Case, an internist who saw claimant five times in 1966-1967, testified that in the two-year period prior to June, 1966, he suffered four to six "blackouts." During his one-year consultation with Dr. Case, claimant suffered six to eight grand mal seizures, which the doctor diagnosed as epilepsy. He now receives medication, and suffered only one seizure in the year prior to the hearing. Although Dr. Case offered his opinion that Trujillo was disabled, he stated that aside from the infrequent seizures, his functional capacity was unimpaired by the epileptic condition.

After a gunshot wound in 1967, an arthrodesis, or fusion, was performed on Trujillo's left wrist, which impairs its movement. However, he retains full use of the left arm and hand. A report of a 1968 psychiatric examination recited a diagnostic impression of a "passive-aggressive personality pattern," with a chronic depressive reaction. However, Dr. Case testified that this was not a disabling factor.

Thus, since 1965 when he last worked, the only intervening physical problem has been the impairment of his left wrist. The epilepsy has been significantly controlled, with the result that the seizures, which Trujillo claimed as the main reason he could not work, are now quite infrequent.

The occupational limitations which result from claimant's condition are not extensive. He should avoid work around hazardous machinery or in high places, and work which requires heavy or complicated manual ability. In addition, his duties should not require him to be alone for long periods.

The first prerequisite for a finding of disability is that the claimant be "unable to do his previous work * * *." 42 U.S.C. § 423(a) (2) (A). Dr. Martin, director of a graduate rehabilitation counselling program enumerated a number of jobs she regarded as within claimant's ability, considering his age, education, and physical condition. Of especial, and we think controlling, significance is her testimony that Trujillo could do the same kind of work he did in his last job of substantial duration, work in an auto and metal salvage yard.¹

Opposing summary affirmance, appellant argues that the Secretary showed merely the theoretical availability of a job, and not the actual availability of work....