Bisignano v. Bisignano
- Katherine Menendez
- 0:25-cv-02545
- U.S. District Court · District of Minnesota
- 2
In Troy J.B. v. Bisignano, Judge Menendez denied Troy J.B.'s appeal of a Social Security disability benefits denial and dismissed the case with prejudice.
Individuals who have had Social Security disability benefits claims denied and are appealing in federal court, particularly those who may miss deadlines to object to a magistrate judge's report and recommendation.
What happened
In Troy J.B. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, a Minnesota federal court reviewed an appeal brought by Troy J.B. challenging the Social Security Administration's denial of his disability benefits claim. A magistrate judge had previously issued a report recommending that Troy J.B.'s request to reverse or send the case back to the agency be denied, and Troy J.B. did not file any objections to that report by the deadline.
Because Troy J.B. missed the deadline to object to the magistrate judge's report, the court applied a limited review standard, looking only for clear errors in the report's conclusions. The court found none. The Commissioner's side had asked the court to uphold the agency's decision, and the magistrate judge's report supported doing so.
Judge Katherine Menendez accepted the magistrate judge's report and recommendation, denied Troy J.B.'s request to reverse or remand the Commissioner's decision, granted the Commissioner's request to affirm the decision, and dismissed the case with prejudice — meaning Troy J.B. cannot refile this same claim in federal court.
The detailed version
- Bisignano v. Bisignano · No. 0:25-cv-02545
- Katherine M. Menendez
- Aug. 7, 2026
Background
Troy J.B. filed this federal court appeal challenging the Social Security Administration's denial of his disability benefits claim. The case was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko, who issued a Report and Recommendation on July 10, 2026, recommending that Troy J.B.'s request for reversal of the Commissioner's decision or remand (sending the case back to the agency for further proceedings) be denied.
Plaintiff's Failure to Object
Under the District of Minnesota's local rules, Troy J.B. had until July 24, 2026, to file objections to the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation. He did not file objections by that deadline, and the opinion notes he submitted nothing further after that point.
Standard of Review
When a party fails to object to a magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation, the district court reviews it only for "clear error" — a more deferential standard than the full de novo (fresh) review that applies when objections are filed. The court cited Nur v. Olmsted County and Grinder v. Gammon for this principle.
Court's Ruling
Applying the clear error standard, Judge Menendez found no clear error in the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation. The court accordingly:
- Accepted the Report and Recommendation (Dkt. 21).
- Denied Troy J.B.'s request to reverse or remand the Commissioner's decision (Dkt. 10).
- Granted the Commissioner's request to affirm the agency's decision (Dkt. 19).
- Dismissed the matter with prejudice, meaning Troy J.B. is barred from refiling this federal appeal of the same claim.
The court directed that judgment be entered accordingly.
Practical Effect
The Social Security Administration's denial of Troy J.B.'s disability benefits claim stands. Because the dismissal is with prejudice, he cannot bring the same federal appeal again. The opinion does not address whether any other avenues — such as filing a new benefits application with the agency — may be available to him.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.