Woodland v. Kijakazi

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GREGORY W.,1 Plaintiff, v. Case No. 1:23-cv-2489-MJS FRANK BISIGNANO, Commissioner of Social Security,2 Defendant. MEMORANDUM OPINION Plaintiff Gregory W. (“Mr. W”) seeks a ruling that would require the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) to reinstate his widower’s benefits. An Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) determined that Mr. W was not entitled to those benefits because he failed to establish a valid common-law marriage between himself and the decedent, Peggye L. (“Ms. L”). Mr. W’s case for reversal rests on…