Baker v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 14

ORDER re 13 and granting plaintiff's 10 motion for attorney fees under EAJA in the amount of $1627.03; further this amount should be paid in addition to, and not out of, any past due benefits which plaintiff may be awarded in the future. Signed by Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren on July 15, 2009. (rw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS HARRISON DIVISION

DWIGHT R. BAKER vs. Civil No. 3:07-cv-03041

PLAINTIFF

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation filed on June 19, 2009 by the Honorable Barry A. Bryant, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. (Doc. No. 13). Judge Bryant recommends that Plaintiff's Application for Attorney Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA") be GRANTED. Defendant has not filed objections to the Report and Recommendation, and the time to object has passed. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Accordingly, this Court finds that counsel is entitled to compensation under the EAJA for 7.75 hours for attorney fees at the rate of $155.00 per hour, 5.05 hours of paralegal work at the rate of $75.00 in addition to $47.03 in costs for a total attorney fee award of $1,627.03. This amount should be paid in addition to, and not out of, any past due benefits which Plaintiff may be awarded in the future. The parties are 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 Plaintiff. IT IS SO ORDERED, this 15th day of July, 2009.

/s/Jimm Larry Hendren HON. JIMM LARRY HENDREN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE