Sep 7, 2016

Wisconsin ALJ Taken Off Regular Duties Because Of Comments About Claimants

     From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Administrative law judge John H. Pleuss has been removed from the list of judges within the computer system at the Social Security’s Madison Office of Adjudication and Review, and all of his 60 cases through the end of 2016 have been reassigned, according to two whistle-blowers from the administration and a copy of the list provided to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ...
Pleuss described disability claimants in his notes using shorthand phrases such as "very black, African looking woman (actually a gorilla-like appearance),” “buxom,” and "attractive; looks innocent,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and a conservative website, Wisconsin Watchdog, have reported. ...
Although Pleuss remains at the Madison office in some capacity, office director Laura Hodorowicz and group supervisor Wayne Gentz have both been removed from the hearing office and its directory, according to Holland, lead case technician Machelle Keller and a copy of the directory provided to the Journal Sentinel. ...
     Pleuss was approving 55% of the cases he heard.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was wondering why a conservative website would be reporting this story until I read the last line...

Anonymous said...

No, it looks like he only approved 39%.

Anonymous said...

I believe Charles is saying he approves 55% of the ones he decides on the merits, but only 39% where dismissals come into the equation. Having appeared before Judge Pleuss a few times, he always came across as one of the more ornery ALJs.

Anonymous said...

Dismissals should never be included when calculating a judges pay rate. Never