Finochiaro v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
23
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 20 Motion for Attorney Fees in the amount of $4,334.80 pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Signed by Honorable Mark E. Ford on May 4, 2015. (hnc)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
PERRY FINOCHIARO
v.
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL NO. 13-2213
CAROLYN W. COLVIN1, Commissioner
Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Pending now before this Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees Under the Equal
Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). ECF No. 20, 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. 6.
On April 8, 2105, 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 $4,334.80 representing
a total of 22.45 attorney hours for work performed in 2013, 2014, and 2015 at an hourly rate of
$180.00, 3.60 paralegal hours at an hourly rate of $75.00, and $23.80 in fees associated with
service of process. ECF No. 20-2. On April 21, 2015, the Defendant filed a response voicing
no objections to Plaintiff’s request for fees. ECF No. 22.
It is the opinion of the undersigned that the Plaintiff is entitled to a fee award in this case,
as he is the prevailing party, the government’s decision to deny benefits was not “substantially
justified”, the hourly rate requested for both attorney and paralegal hours does not exceed the CPI
for either year in question, and the time asserted to have been spent in the representation of the
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.
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Plaintiff before the district court is reasonable. 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); 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). Accordingly, Plaintiff is entitled to an attorney’s fee award
under EAJA in the amount of $4,334.80.
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 are reminded that, in order to prevent double recovery by counsel for the
Plaintiff, 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.
IV.
Conclusion:
Based upon the foregoing, Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $4,334.80 for attorney’s fees
pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
2
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Dated this 4th day of May, 2015.
/s/ Mark E. Ford
HONORABLE MARK E. FORD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
3
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