⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears argument in Collard versus Bisignano, a social security disability appeal. Kristin Collard worked as a certified nursing assistant until early twenty sixteen, when her employer lost a contract and offered severance packages. She alleges that fibromyalgia syndrome, a chronic pain condition, rendered her disabled as of June twenty ninth, twenty sixteen. An administrative law judge—known as an ALJ—denied benefits, finding that although she could no longer perform her former heavy work, she retained the capacity for a limited range of light work. The district court affirmed, and Collard now appeals. The core legal issue is whether the ALJ properly evaluated Collard's subjective testimony about her pain and limitations, and whether the ALJ correctly assessed the medical opinions and lay witness statements in light of the waxing and waning nature of fibromyalgia. This is the third ALJ decision in Collard's case; two prior district court proceedings came before this appeal. The panel includes Judges Hawkins, McKeown, and Christen.

Collard v. Bisignano (No. 25-6334) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026.