Peterson v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 17

ORDER finding that plaintiff is entitled to an attorney's fee award under the EAJA in the amount of $531.25 and $48.85 in costs ; 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. Further, any EAJA award by this Court should be made payable to plaintiff and not counsel. Signed by Honorable Erin L. Setser on December 19, 2011. (rw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HARRISON DIVISION
BRENDA L. PETERSON
V.

PLAINTIFF
NO. 09-3085

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Plaintiff, Brenda L. Peterson, appealed the Commissioner’s denial of benefits to the
Court. On February 14, 2011, a Judgment was entered remanding Plaintiff’s case to the
Commissioner, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. 13). Plaintiff now moves
for an award of $828.10 in attorney’s fees, paralegal’s fees and costs, under 28 U.S.C. § 2412,
the Equal Access to Justice Act (hereinafter “EAJA”), requesting compensation for 2.10 attorney
hours of work before the Court in 2009 and 2010, at an hourly rate of $155.00, and 6.05
paralegal hours at an hourly rate of $75.00, and $48.85 in costs. Defendant has filed a response
to Plaintiff’s application, stating that Plaintiff’s counsel failed to attach the relevant cost of living
documentation and failed to properly show the calculation of the requested enhanced hourly rate,
and that any fees awarded should be paid to the Plaintiff. (Doc. 16).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A), the Court must award attorney’s fees to a
prevailing social security claimant unless the Commissioner’s position in denying benefits was
substantially justified. The burden is on the Commissioner to show substantial justification for
the government’s denial of benefits. Jackson v. Bowen, 807 F.2d 127, 128 (8th Cir. 1986).
Under Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993), a social security claimant who obtains a
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sentence-four judgment reversing the Commissioner’s denial of benefits and remanding the case
for further proceedings is a prevailing party. After reviewing the file, the Court finds that
Plaintiff is a prevailing party in this matter.
In determining a reasonable attorney’s fee, the Court will in each case consider the
following factors: time and labor required; the novelty and difficulty of questions involved; the
skill required to handle the problems presented; the preclusion of employment by the attorney
due to acceptance of the case; the customary fee; whether the fee is fixed or contingent; time
limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; the amount involved and the results
obtained; the attorney’s experience, reputation and ability; the “undesirability” of the case; the
nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; and awards in similar cases.
Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 430 (1983).
However, the EAJA is not designed to reimburse without limit. Pierce v. Underwood,
487 U.S. 552, 573 (1988). The Court can determine the reasonableness and accuracy of a fee
request, even in the absence of an objection by the Commissioner. Clements v. Astrue, 2009 WL
4508480 (W.D. Ark. Dec. 1, 2009); see also Decker v. Sullivan, 976 F.2d 456, 459 (8th Cir.
1992) (“Although the issue was not raised on appeal, fairness to the parties requires an accurately
calculated attorney’s fee award.”).
The EAJA further requires an attorney seeking fees to submit “an itemized
statement...stating the actual time expended and the rate at which fees and other expenses were
computed.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B). Attorneys seeking fees under federal fee-shifting
statutes such as the EAJA are required to present fee applications with “contemporaneous time
records of hours worked and rates claimed, plus a detailed description of the subject matter of
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the work.”

Id.

Where documentation is inadequate, the Court may reduce the award

accordingly. Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433 (1983).
Plaintiff’s attorney requests an award under the EAJA for 2.10 hours of attorney work
performed at an hourly rate of $155.00, and 6.05 hours of paralegal work at an hourly rate of
$75.00. The party seeking attorney fees bears the burden of proving that the claimed fees are
reasonable. Id., 461 U.S. at 437. Attorney’s fees may not be awarded in excess of $125.00 per
hour-the maximum statutory rate under § 2412(d)(2)(A)-unless the Court finds that an increase
in the cost of living or a special factor such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys
justifies a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A).
The decision to increase the hourly rate is not automatic and remains at the discretion of
the district court. McNulty v. Sullivan, 886 F.2d 1074 (8th Cir. 1989). In Johnson v. Sullivan,
919 F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1990), the Court stated that 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 [the maximum statutory hourly rate],” such as a copy of the Consumer Price
Index (CPI). Plaintiff’s counsel submitted a CPI in support of his requested hourly rate.1
Therefore, the Court believes his argument for enhanced fees based on a cost of living increase
has merit.
The Court will next address the number of hours Plaintiff’s counsel has alleged he spent
in this matter.
Plaintiff’s counsel seeks .85 attorney hours and .55 paralegal hours for Preparation of

1

Plaintiff’s counsel submitted the CPI - Urban in support of his position. However, the Court will instead use the
CPI - South, since Arkansas is included in that region.

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Motion for Extension of Time to file a brief and receipt and review of the Order granting the
extension. Plaintiff’s counsel was given ample time to file a brief on behalf of his client and
should not be allowed compensation for work performed as a result of his inability to meet the
deadlines set by this Court. Accordingly, .85 attorney hours and .55 paralegal hours will be
deducted from the time sought by counsel.
Plaintiff’s counsel seeks 1.50 paralegal hours for “Preparation of the time exhibits for
EAJA preparation,” and “Preparation of EAJA motions, etc.” The Court believes that the time
claimed for preparing what appears to be the standard fee petition and brief submitted by
Plaintiff’s counsel in social security cases is excessive. The Court will deduct 1 paralegal hour
from the time claimed.
Plaintiff’s counsel seeks reimbursement for $48.85 in costs incurred with regard to
postage. Such costs are recoverable under the EAJA and the Court finds $48.85 in costs to be
a reasonable award. See Kelly v. Bowen, 852 F.2d 1333, 1335 (8th Cir. 1988).
In his response, Defendant asks the Court to designate Plaintiff as payee of the EAJA
award, and not Plaintiff’s counsel. Based upon the holding in Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521
(2010), the EAJA award should be paid directly to Plaintiff.
Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to an attorney’s fee
award under the EAJA for: 1.25 hours for attorney work (2.10 hours - .85 hours) at an hourly rate
of $155.00, and 4.50 hours of paralegal work (6.05 hours - 1.55 hours) at an hourly rate of
$75.00, for a total attorney’s fee award of $531.25 and $48.85 in costs. This amount should be
paid in addition to, and not out of, any past due benefits which Plaintiff may be awarded in the
future.
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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 the Plaintiff.
IT IS SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this 19th day of December, 2011.

/s/ Erin L. Setser
HONORABLE ERIN L. SETSER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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