Ansah v. Kilolo Kijakazi

Background

The court had referred the parties’ cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings to Magistrate Judge Willis. A judgment on the pleadings asks the court to decide the case based on the pleadings and the record before it. Magistrate Judge Willis recommended denying Florence Ansah’s motion and granting the Acting Commissioner’s cross-motion.

Objections and Review

The report and recommendation gave the parties fourteen days to object and warned that failing to object would waive the right to object and to seek appellate review. No objections or extension request had been filed by the time of the order. The court therefore found that Ansah had waived the right to object. Even so, the court independently reviewed the petition and the report and recommendation and found the recommendation well reasoned and supported by the facts and law.

Ruling

The court adopted the report and recommendation in its entirety. Thus, Ansah’s motion for judgment on the pleadings was denied, and the Acting Commissioner’s cross-motion was granted. The clerk was directed to terminate the two listed motions, substitute Kilolo Kijakazi as the defendant under the federal civil-procedure rule governing substitution of public officers, and close the case. The opinion does not describe the underlying Social Security dispute or explain the reasoning supporting the recommended disposition beyond stating that the report was grounded in fact and law.