Richardson v. Perales

Pedro Perales (plaintiff) sought Social Security disability benefits for a back injury; at his administrative hearing, he and his own doctor testified he was totally and permanently disabled, but written reports from his treating neurosurgeon and other specialists concluded otherwise. Perales objected that the formal rules of evidence should have barred the contrary medical reports, but the hearing examiner overruled his objections and found him not disabled; the appeals council affirmed, and after review in the lower federal courts, the Supreme Court granted certiorari.