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The ALJ was quite reasonably curious how Mr. Dotson was affording this $5,500 a month drug habit and inquired further. We must have some care for Dotson's poor attorney who surely had his head buried in his hands as Harold explained that he either begged for or stole for the money.

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The ALJ continued his questioning and Mr. Dotson helpfully explained that he rode around and stole all over. He would sometimes even spend all day casing places and particularly liked to steal small chainsaws which he could then sell to small local businesses. Entrepreneurial!

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So the ALJ denied the case at Step One, finding that the larceny constituted Substantial Gainful Activity and Mr. Dotson couldn't possibly be disabled. Now, if I were Harold Dotson and I'd just testified under oath to theft and illegal drug use I'd probably have let sleeping dogs lie...

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Unfortunately, that's a lot of activity to be doing. Going out, hunting for things to steal, stealing them, finding someone to buy them. His brain and his body were both getting quite the workout. And he was making a lot of money doing it! $200-300 a day wasn't chump change in 1990.

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