Reeves v. Social Security Administration

Filing 21

ORDER granting 18 Motion for Attorney Fees & Expenses. The Commissioner is directed to certify & pay Anthony W. Bartels, attorney for Plaintiff, the amount of $1,417.21, which has been awarded as fees & expenses pursuant to the EAJA. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 8/20/09. (jct)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS JONESBORO DIVISION ORA REEVES v. MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner, Social Security Administration ORDE R Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's Motion for an Award of Attorney's Fees and Other Expenses Under the Provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), along with a Memorandum in Support (docket entries #18 and #19). Defendant has filed a Response (docket entry #20). For the reasons set forth herein, the Motion will be granted. On July 3, 2008, Plaintiff filed this action challenging the decision of an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") denying her social security benefits (docket entry #2). On June 5, 2009, the Court entered a Memorandum and Order and a Judgment (docket entries #16 and #17) remanding the case to the ALJ pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89 (1991). On August 6, 2009, Plaintiff's attorney, Mr. Anthony W. Bartels, filed a Motion for an Award of Attorney's Fees and Other Expenses Under the Provisions of the EAJA. In this Motion, Mr. Bartels seeks payment for 5.95 hours of work performed by an attorney, 4.80 hours of work performed by a paralegal, and reimbursement for $15.96 in expenses. Pursuant to an agreement between The Bartels Law Firm and the Office of General Counsel of the Social Security 3:08CV00095 JTR PLAINTIFF

DEFENDANT

Administration (docket entry #19, attachment), Mr. Bartels seeks payment for 5.95 hours of work performed by an attorney during 2008 and 2009 at the adjusted hourly rate of $175.00. Mr. Bartels seeks payment for 4.80 hours of paralegal time at the rate of $75 an hour and $15.96 in expenses. Defendant does not object to the requested amounts for attorney's fees and expenses. Under these circumstances, the Court concludes that Plaintiff is entitled to an award of fees and expenses under the EAJA, and that the amount requested by Plaintiff's attorney is reasonable. Accordingly, Plaintiff's attorney shall receive a total award of $1,417.21 which includes: (1) 5.95 hours of attorney time at the rate of $175.00 per hour ($1,041.25); (2) 4.80 hours of paralegal time at the rate of $75.00 per hour ($360.00); and (3) $15.96 in expenses. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for an Award of Attorney's Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (docket entry #18) is hereby GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commissioner shall certify and pay to Mr. Anthony W. Bartels, attorney for Plaintiff, $1,417.21, which has been awarded as fees and expenses pursuant to the EAJA. DATED this 20th day of August, 2009.

_____________________________________ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

-2-