Case Explained: TAYLOR V. BISIGNANO

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-10

Docket: 2:23-cv-01954-AN

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision upholding the Administrative Law Judge’s denial of supplemental security income benefits, holding that substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s determination that the claimant retained the residual functional capacity to perform simple and repetitive tasks with some detail but nothing complex. The court applied the standard of review requiring affirmation unless the ALJ’s decision lacks substantial evidence or is based on legal error, specifically noting that ALJs are not required to defer to prior administrative medical findings and may independently evaluate medical evidence under 20 C.F.R. § 416.920c. The court found the ALJ properly articulated why the claimant’s treating physicians’ opinions limiting her to “simple one- and two-step tasks” were less persuasive than the record as a whole, citing inconsistent mental status exams showing unremarkable cognitive findings, conservative treatment history, and daily activities demonstrating an ability to handle basic mental tasks. Consequently, the judgment of the district court is affirmed, leaving the denial of benefits in place.

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