Jimerson v. Social Security Administration

Filing 28

ORDER re 22 27 Motions for Attorney Fees. The Court finds that counsel is entitled to compensation under EAJA of $1,997.52. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney on 7/19/11. (kpr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EASTERN DIVISION
MAE H. JIMERSON
v.

PLAINTIFF
Civil Case No. 2:10CV00018 JTK

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner, Social
Security Administration

DEFENDANT
ORDER

Pending is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees and other
expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C.
§ 2412 (docket entry #22).

In her motion, Plaintiff requests fees

of $3,500 and expenses in the amount of $44.10.

The Commissioner

does not object to the amount requested (docket entry #25).
Because the application did not contain an itemized statement,
the Court granted Plaintiff ten (10) days to supplement her motion.
Plaintiff has now submitted that supplementation (docket entry
#27).
The EAJA provides that attorneys’ fees “shall not be awarded
in excess of $125.00 per hour unless the court determines that an
increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the
limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings
involved, justifies a higher fee.”

28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A).

Paralegals are to be compensated at the market rate. Missouri v.
Jenkins, 491 U.S. 274, 289 (1989).

An hourly rate of $75.00 is the

prevailing market rate at this time.

See Roberts v. Astrue, 2009

WL 5206699 (W.D. Ark. Dec. 29, 2009); Mullins v. Astrue, 2008 WL
1745287 (E.D. Ark. Apr. 11, 2008).
Plaintiff requests payment for 30 attorney hours, at a rate of
$125

and

expenses

$3,544.10.

in

the

amount

of

$44.10,

for

a

total

of

However, Plaintiff’s itemized statement shows 25.7

attorney hours, 2.3 paralegal hours, and $44.10 in expenses(docket
entry 27-1).

The paralegal hours are not entitled to compensation

at the attorney rate of $125.00.

Also, 11.3 attorney hours, 2.3

paralegal hours, and $41.39 in expenses occurred prior to the
filing of the Complaint on December 9, 2009.

Work performed prior

to the time the Complaint was filed is not compensable.

See

Cornella v. Schweiker, 728 F.2d 978, 988-89 (8th Cir. 1984).
Notwithstanding, the Court will allow 1.8 attorney hours, 0.7
paralegal hours, and $4.81 in expenses for this time period because
some of the time submitted was clearly in preparation for the
filing of the Complaint.

Accordingly, 9.5 attorney hours and 1.6

paralegal hours must be deducted from the total compensable time
sought by counsel, along with $36.58 in expenses.
Further, the 2.2 hours sought for preparation of the EAJA
application, which in this case was incomplete, is excessive and
the Court deducts 0.7 hours from the total compensable time sought
by counsel.

See Trammel v. Astrue, 2008 WL 4368626 (W.D. Ark.

Sept. 19, 2008)(court deducted 0.50 paralegal hours from a sought
total of 2.00 paralegal hours for the preparation of the EAJA

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petition and brief because time sought found to be excessive).
Finally, preparation of a letter to the U.S. Attorney and to the
client can be performed by support staff.

See Granville House,

Inc. v. Department of HEW, 813 F.2d 881, 884 (8th Cir. 1987)(work
which could have been completed by support staff is not compensable
under the EAJA). The Court will assume in this particular instance,
however, that the lawyer’s input was necessary, and award the 0.2
attorney hours.
Based on the above, the Court finds that counsel is entitled
to compensation under the EAJA for: 15.5 attorney hours, at the
hourly rate of $125, 0.7 paralegal hours at an hourly rate of $75,
and expenses totaling $7.52, for a total award of $1,997.52
IT IS SO ORDERED this 19th day of July, 2011.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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