McCormick v. Social Security Administration
Filing
19
ORDER granting 16 Motion for Attorney Fees & Expenses. Plaintiff is awarded $2,746.62 in attorney's fees & expenses under the EAJA. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 9/29/2011. (jct)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
DONNA McCORMICK
V.
PLAINTIFF
3:09CV00187 JTR
DEFENDANT
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner, Social
Security Administration
ORDER
Plaintiff has filed a Motion for an Award of Attorney’s Fees and Other
Expenses pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) (docket entry #16). The
Commissioner has responded (docket entry #18).
Under the EAJA, a prevailing social security claimant is entitled to an award
of reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses unless the Commissioner’s position in
denying benefits was “substantially justified” or special circumstances make an award
unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). A claimant who wins a sentence-four remand
order and judgment, as Plaintiff did in this case (docket entries #14, #15), is a
prevailing party entitled to EAJA fees. Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993).
Pursuant to an agreement between Plaintiff’s counsel and the Office of General
Counsel of the Social Security Administration, Plaintiff seeks an EAJA award for
13.54 hours of work done by her attorneys during 2010 and 2011 at an adjusted hourly
rate of $175.00 (docket entry #17-1, at 1-2, 12-14). Furthermore, she seeks payment
for 4.55 hours of work done by paralegal assistants at an hourly rate of $75.00, plus
expenses in the amount of $16.62, for a total award of $2,746.62 (id. at 9-10, 12-14).
The Commissioner does not oppose the EAJA request, and has no objection to the
hourly rate or number of hours requested.
The Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to an award of fees and expenses under
the EAJA, and that the amount requested is reasonable.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT Plaintiff’s Motion for an Award of
Attorney’s Fees and Other Expenses under the EAJA (docket entry #16) is
GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Plaintiff is awarded $2,746.62 in
attorney’s fees and expenses under the EAJA.
DATED this 29th day of September, 2011.
____________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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