Green v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
28
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 25 Motion for Attorney Fees. Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $4,489.05 for attorney's fees pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Signed by Honorable Mark E. Ford on August 1, 2022. (mjm) Modified on 8/1/2022 to edit text (mjm).
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
ANDREW GREEN
v.
PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 2:20-cv-02225-MEF
KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting 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. (ECF Nos. 25, 26). On June 20, 2022, 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 $4,489.05, representing a total of 4.15 attorney hours for work performed in 2020 at an
hourly rate of $203.00; 16.10 attorney hours for work performed in 2021 at an hourly rate of
$206.00; and 4.40 paralegal hours at an hourly rate of $75.00. (ECF No. 26-2). On June 29, 2022,
the Commissioner filed a response voicing no objections. (ECF No. 27).
I.
Discussion
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 attorney time 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
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, 505 (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, Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 430
(1983) (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 $4,489.05.
Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 596 (2010), the EAJA fee award should be
made payable to Plaintiff. As a matter of practice, however, an EAJA fee made payable to Plaintiff
may properly be mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel.
The parties are reminded that, to prevent double recovery by counsel for the Plaintiff, the
award herein under the EAJA will be considered at such time as a reasonable fee is determined
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406.
II.
Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing, Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $4,489.05 for attorney’s fees
pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
Dated this 1st day of August 2022.
/s/ Mark E. Ford
HONORABLE MARK E. FORD
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
2
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