Daugherty retires amid controversy

HUNTINGTON – Social Security Administrative Law Judge David B. Daugherty has retired amid several investigations within the appeals sections of the Social Security office.

Daugherty's retirement from the Huntington Social Security Administration was effective July 13. He was placed on indefinite administrative leave in May while an investigation by the agency of his practices continued.

In the last year, Daugherty, 75, has heard more Social Security cases than any other administrative law judge in the nation.

Daugherty, a longtime state and federal judge, has denied any wrongdoing in awarding disability benefits to a high percentage of Social Security appeals. In 2010, Daugherty only denied benefits in four of his more than 1,200 cases.

In the first six months of 2011, he had awarded disability benefits in all of the 729 cases he heard. Most disability judges award benefits approximately 60 percent of the time.

Until 1984, Daugherty was a Cabell County circuit judge. He had been an administrative judge for Social Security since 1990.

After the controversy came to light, Chief Judge Charlie Andrus stepped down from his management position under pressure from Social Security officials.