Russell C. Lind v. John W. Gardner, Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare

434 F.2d 1313 | 9th Cir. | 1971

434 F.2d 1313

Russell C. LIND, Appellant,
v.
John W. GARDNER, Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare,* Appellee.

No. 23883.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

December 23, 1970.

Rehearing Denied January 28, 1971.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California; M. D. Crocker, Judge.

Russell C. Lind (argued), in pro. per.

Wm. B. Shubl (argued), Richard V. Boulger, Asst. U. S. Attys., Fresno, Cal., John P. Hyland, U. S. Atty., James H. Daffer, Asst. U. S. Atty., Sacramento, Cal., for appellee.

Before BARNES, ELY, and KILKENNY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

1

In 1964 the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare terminated Lind's disability insurance benefits because the Department decided that Lind was capable of engaging in "substantial gainful activity."1 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i), 423. This decision was affirmed by the agency upon reconsideration, by an examiner after a de novo hearing, and by the Department Appeals Council. Lind sought relief in the District Court and now appeals from a summary judgment upholding the Department's decision. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

2

From the record before us, we cannot say that the challenged administrative decision was not supported by substantial evidence.2

3

Affirmed.

Notes:

*

The named appellee was a party in his official capacity as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. The present Secretary is Mr. Elliot Richardson. See Rule 43(c), Fed.R.App.P

1

In 1961, when he first received the disability benefits, Lind was diagnosed as a chronic schizophrenic with reactions of the paranoid type who also suffered from heart trouble in the form of angina pectoris. In 1964, however, there was no evidence of a heart condition and his paranoia was in remission. He had a passive-dependent type of approach to life

2

One doctor noted that Lind was not mentally retarded and could manage his own funds. Although several physicians believed that Lind's schizophrenia with a paranoiac reaction in partial remission was permanent, one distinguished psychiatrist expressed the opinion that Lind could work in a restricted environment where there was a minimum of social contact. She stated that "[i]f motivation could be achieved to some degree, Mr. Lind, because of his capacity to reason and plan and pursue such planning should have many years of productivity left to pursue."

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