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GREEN v. SAUL (2020)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Lacey Ann GREEN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Andrew M. SAUL, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 17-35346

Decided: April 08, 2020

Before: TROTT, SILVERMAN, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges

James S. Coon, Esquire, Attorney, Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, Portland, OR, Nancy J. Meserow, Attorney, Law Office of Nancy J. Meserow, Portland, OR, for Plaintiff-Appellant Sarah Leigh Martin, Assistant Regional Counsel, SSA - SOCIAL Security Administration, Office of the General Counsel, Seattle, WA, Renata Gowie, DOJ-USAO, Portland, OR, for Defendant-Appellee

MEMORANDUM **

Lacy Green appeals the district court's order affirming the Social Security Administration's denial of Green's applications for disability benefits. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review the district court de novo and the agency for substantial evidence and legal error. Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1009-10 (9th Cir. 2014). We affirm.

The ALJ erred by not specifically asking the vocational expert whether his opinion was consistent with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). Massachi v. Astrue, 486 F.3d 1149, 1153 (9th Cir. 2007). However, there is no conflict between the DOT and the vocational expert's opinion or Green's social limitations. The DOT specifically provides that a small products assembler position involves no significant interaction with other people. Dictionary of Occupational Titles § 706.684-011 (4th ed.1991). Therefore, the procedural error is harmless. Massachi, 486 F.3d at 1154 n.19.

AFFIRMED.

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GREEN v. SAUL (2020)

Docket No: No. 17-35346

Decided: April 08, 2020

Court: United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

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