Bisignano v. Bisignano
- Leo Brisbois
- 0:25-cv-02377
- U.S. District Court · District of Minnesota
- 2
In Alan L. v. Bisignano, Judge Bryan granted plaintiff Alan L.'s request for relief and remanded the case to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings.
Social Security claimants whose cases are appealed to federal district court in the District of Minnesota, particularly those whose magistrate judge recommendations go unobjected to and whose cases may be remanded to the Social Security Administration for further administrative review.
What happened
In Alan L. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security (Case No. 25-CV-2377), a Social Security claimant identified only as Alan L. challenged a decision by the Social Security Administration. A magistrate judge previously issued a Report and Recommendation suggesting that Alan L. should win and that the case should be sent back to the agency for additional administrative proceedings. Neither side objected to that recommendation before the deadline passed.
Because no objections were filed, the district court reviewed the Report and Recommendation only for obvious or clear errors. Finding none, the court accepted the magistrate judge's recommendations in full. The court granted Alan L.'s request for relief and denied the Commissioner's request for relief.
Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan issued this order on August 3, 2026, remanding the case to the Social Security Administration under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 405(g), sentence four) for further administrative proceedings consistent with the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation. The court directed that judgment be entered accordingly.
The detailed version
- Bisignano v. Bisignano · No. 0:25-cv-02377
- Leo Brisbois
- Aug. 3, 2026
Background
Plaintiff Alan L. (identified only by first name and last initial pursuant to the District of Minnesota's policy in Social Security matters) brought this action against Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, challenging an agency decision. The case was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois for a Report and Recommendation (R&R).
Report and Recommendation
On April 30, 2026, Magistrate Judge Brisbois issued an R&R recommending that Alan L.'s request for relief be granted, that the Commissioner's request for relief be denied, and that the matter be remanded to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for further administrative proceedings consistent with the R&R's discussion. The opinion does not detail the specific grounds for the magistrate judge's recommendation beyond this description.
No Objections Filed
Neither party filed objections to the R&R within the time permitted under District of Minnesota Local Rule 72.2(b)(1). Where no timely objections are filed to a magistrate judge's R&R, the district court reviews only for clear error, citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b) and Grinder v. Gammon, 73 F.3d 793, 795 (8th Cir. 1996).
Ruling
Finding no clear error, Judge Bryan adopted the R&R in full. The court:
- Adopted the R&R (Doc. No. 23).
- Granted Plaintiff Alan L.'s request for relief (Doc. No. 12).
- Denied the Commissioner's request for relief (Doc. No. 22).
- Remanded the action to the SSA pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) — a statutory provision allowing a federal court to reverse or affirm an agency decision and remand for further proceedings — for further administrative proceedings consistent with the R&R.
The court directed that judgment be entered accordingly.
Representation
Plaintiff Alan L. was represented by Edward C. Olson of Reitan Law Office, Minneapolis, MN, and Clifford Michael Farrell (admitted pro hac vice, meaning admitted specially for this case from outside the district) of Manring & Farrell, Dublin, OH. Defendant Frank Bisignano was represented by James D. Sides and Shea Taulbee of the Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.