Craig v. Social Security Administration

Filing 17

ORDER approving attorney fees in the amount of $3,888.00; directing the EAJA fees be paid in accordance with Astrue v. Ratliff; and directing Defendant to certify said award and pay Plaintiff's attorney this amount. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on 8/6/2013. (srw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
JOHN LEE CRAIG,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

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No. 3:12CV00076-JJV

Defendant.
ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Application for Attorney’s Fees pursuant to the Equal Access
to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Plaintiff’s counsel requests $3,888.00, representing 21.6
attorney hours at $180 an hour. The Commissioner responded and objects to the fees requested.
The Commissioner believes counsel should be awarded $165 an hour and explains in her Response
how she comes to that conclusion. However, the Court is perplexed why the Commissioner objects
to $180 an hour in this case when the Commissioner routinely considers an hourly rate of $181 to
be “reasonable.” See e.g., Davis v. Astrue, 2:12-CV-00121; Collins v. Astrue, 1:09-CV-00026; Alley
v. Astrue, 3:10-CV-00265; Ford v. Astrue, 3:11-CV-00002; George v. Astrue, 2:10-CV-00204;
Propes v. Astrue, 3:11-CV-00049.
Therefore, after careful consideration of the Motion and Response, the Court finds:
1.

The hours spent by counsel were reasonable. Therefore the Court approves attorney

fees in the amount of $3,888.00 (21.6 attorney hours at $180.00).
2.

The award of EAJA fees shall be paid in accordance with Astrue v. Ratliff, --- U.S.

----, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2527, 2010 WL 2346547 (2010).
3.

Defendant shall certify said award and pay Plaintiff’s attorney this amount.

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IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of August, 2013.

__ ________________________________
JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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