Arnold v. Barnhart’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

7 federal appellate ·

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 28 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In the first step the ALJ considers the applicant’s present work activity. Second, the ALJ weighs the severity of the applicant’s impairment. The impairment or combination of impairments must severely restrict an applicant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities or an ALJ should enter a finding of not disabled. Third, the ALJ decides whether the impairment or combination of impairments meets or equals an impairment listed within the regulations which are conclusively disabling. If an ALJ is unable to make a disability determination in the first three steps, then the process proceeds to an assessment of the applicant’s residual functional capacity (RFC), At the fourth step, the ALJ determines whether the RFC prevents the applicant from performing his or her past relevant work. If not, in the fifth and final step the ALJ uses the assessment of RFC to determine if the applicant can make an adjustment to other work based on the applicant’s age, education, and work experience.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 589 F. Supp. 2d 995 - Ridinger v. Astrue

2. “The reasons for an ALJ’s credibility determination must be grounded in the evidence and articulated in the determination or decision. It is not sufficient to make a conclusory statement that “the individual’s allegations have been considered” or that “the allegations are (or are not) credible.” The determination or decision must contain specific reasons for the finding on credibility, supported by the evidence in the case record, and must be sufficiently specific to make clear to the individual and to any subsequent reviewers the weight the adjudicator gave to the individual’s statements and the reasons for that weight.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 781 F. Supp. 2d 790 - Staggs v. Astrue