Deel v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 23

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 18 Motion for attorney Fees and granting 21 Motion for Attorney Fees, in the amount of $5117.76. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on March 4, 2014. (rw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
KALAH DEEL
v.

PLAINTIFF
CIVIL NO. 13-2017

CAROLYN W. COLVIN1, Commissioner
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Pending now before this Court is Plaintiff’s Motion and Amended Motion for Attorney
Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). ECF No. 18, 21. The parties have
consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct any and all proceedings in this
case, and pursuant to said authority, the Court issues this Order. ECF No. 7.
On January 29, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs under 28
U.S.C. § 2412, the Equal Access to Justice Act (hereinafter “EAJA”) requesting $5,168.32
representing a total of .42 attorney hours for work performed in 2012 at an hourly rate of
$180.44, 25.522 attorney hours for work performed in 2013 at a rate of $182.79 per hour, and
2.00 attorney hours of work performed in 2014 at an hourly rate of $186.46. ECF No. 18, 22.
On February 12, 2014, and February 14, 2014, the Defendant filed responses objecting to the
hourly rate requested by Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s request that the EAJA fees be made payable
directly to his or her attorney. ECF No. 20, 22.

1

Carolyn W. Colvin became the Social Security Commissioner on February 14, 2013. Pursuant to Rule
25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Carolyn W. Colvin has been substituted for Commissioner
Michael J. Astrue as the defendant in this suit.
2

Plaintiff’s counsel contends that he put in 28.52 attorney hours in 2013, however, his declaration
reveals he spent only 25.52 hours. Accordingly, this Court will use 25.52 in its calculation.

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

It is the opinion of the undersigned that the Plaintiff is entitled to a fee award in this case,
as he or she is the prevailing party and the government’s decision to deny benefits was not
“substantially justified.” See Jackson v. Bowen, 807 F.2d 127, 128 (8th Cir. 1986) (burden is on
the Commissioner to show substantial justification for the government’s denial of benefits).
However, we do not find that the hourly rates requested are authorized. Johnson v. Sullivan, 919
F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1990) (the hourly rate may be increased when there is “uncontested proof of
an increase in the cost of living sufficient to justify hourly attorney’s fees of more than $75.00
an hour); and Allen v. Heckler, 588 F.Supp. 1247 (W.D.N.Y. 1984) (in determining
reasonableness, court looks at time and labor required; the difficulty of questions involved; the
skill required to handle the problems presented; the attorney's experience, ability, and reputation;
the benefits resulting to the client from the services; the customary fee for similar services; the
contingency or certainty of compensation; the results obtained; and, the amount involved).
Pursuant to Amended General Order 39, the hourly rate for 2012 is $180.00, the rate for 2013
is $183.00, and the rate for 2014 is $186.00. Accordingly, Plaintiff is entitled to an attorney’s
fee award under EAJA in the amount of $5,117.76.
Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2528 (2010), the EAJA fee award should
be made payable to Plaintiff. However, as a matter of practice, an EAJA fee made payable to
Plaintiff may properly be mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel.
The parties should be reminded that the award herein under the EAJA will be taken into
account at such time as a reasonable fee is determined pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406, in order to
prevent double recovery by counsel for the Plaintiff.

2

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

IV.

Conclusion:
Based upon the foregoing, the Court awards Plaintiff $5,117.76 pursuant to the EAJA,

28 U.S.C. § 2412.
Dated this 4th day of March 2014.
/s/ J. Marschewski
HON. JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

3

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)