Gregg v. Social Security Administration

Filing 20

ORDER granting 17 Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is awarded $2,893.92 in attorney's fees and expenses under the EAJA. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 10/5/2012. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION

RHONDA S. GREGG
V.

PLAINTIFF
NO. 3:11CV00107-JTR

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner, Social
Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion requesting an award of attorney’s
fees and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”).1 (Docket entry
#17.) The Commissioner has filed a Response. (Docket entry #19.)
Plaintiff's attorney, Anthony Bartels, requests a total award of $2,893.92
consisting of: (1) 13.80 hours of attorney work in 2011 and 2012 at the adjusted
hourly rate of $181.00 ($2,497.80); (2) 5.05 hours of paralegal work at the hourly rate
of $75.00 ($378.75); and (3) $17.37 in expenses for serving Plaintiff’s Complaint via
certified mail. He also requests that the award be mailed directly to him based on an
assignment executed by Plaintiff.
The Commissioner does not object to the requested amount of fees and
1

On June 14, 2012, the Court entered a Memorandum Order and Judgment reversing
the Commissioner’s decision and remanding this case for further administrative proceedings.
(Docket entries #15, #16.)

expenses.
Pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Astrue v. Ratliff, 130
S. Ct. 2521 (2010), an award of EAJA fees belongs to the prevailing party, not that
party’s lawyer. Consistent with the Commissioner’s usual procedure, the check
awarding EAJA fees should be made payable to Plaintiff, but mailed to the care of
Plaintiff’s attorney at the attorney’s office.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of
Attorney’s Fees and Expenses Under the EAJA (docket entry #17) is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is awarded $2,893.92 in attorney's
fees and expenses under the EAJA.
DATED this 5th day of October, 2012.

____________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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