Carrigan v. Social Security Administration

Filing 17

ORDER granting 15 Plaintiff's Application for Attorney Fees; approving attorney fees in the amount of $3,163.12; directing the award be paid to Plaintiff's counsel subject to any offset to satisfy any pre-existing debt owed to the U.S., and directing Defendant to certify said award and pay Plaintiff's attorney this amount. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on 5/16/2013. (srw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
CURTIS KENT CARRIGAN,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration,

No. 4:11CV00725-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. The Commissioner1 responded and offered no objection
to the fees requested but states Plaintiff’s request for costs is not authorized under EAJA. 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 $3,163.122 (17.5 attorney hours at $180.75). Costs are not reimbursable
under EAJA and are, therefore, denied.
2.

The award of EAJA fees shall be paid directly to Plaintiff’s counsel subject to any

offset to satisfy any pre-existing debt owed to the United States. Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. ----, 130
S.Ct. 2521, 2527, 2010 WL 2346547 (2010).

1

Carolyn W. Colvin was sworn in as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Admin-istration
on February 14, 2013, replacing Michael Astrue. She has therefore been substituted as the defendant
in this case pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d)(1).
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The Court calculates a different total than does Plaintiff. Plaintiff’s itemization reflects a total of
17.5 attorney hours.
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3.

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

IT IS SO ORDERED this 16th day of May, 2013.

__ ________________________________
JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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