Sellers v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 29

ORDER granting 27 Plaintiff's Consent Petition for Attorney Fees. Signed by Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lammens on 8/23/2012. (AR)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA OCALA DIVISION DONNA MARIE SELLERS, Plaintiff, v. Case No:5:11-CV-517-Oc-PRL COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY Defendant. ___________________________________/ ORDER Pending before the Court is Plaintiff=s Consent Petition for Attorney Fees. (Doc. 27). Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (AEAJA@), 28 U.S.C. '2412(d), Plaintiff requests an award of fees in the amount of $4,709.67. The attached schedules of hours confirm the attorney hours. (Docs. 27-2, 27-3). Plaintiff represents that the Commissioner has no objection to her Petition. Plaintiff asserts that she is the prevailing party in this litigation, that the Commissioner=s position in the underlying action was not substantially justified and that her net worth at the time the proceeding was filed was less than two million dollars.1 On June 6, 2012, the Court entered an Order reversing and remanding this cause back to the Commissioner for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. ' 1 Under the EAJA, a claimant is eligible for an attorney fee award where: (1) the claimant is a prevailing party in a non-tort suit involving the United States; (2) the Government=s position was not substantially justified; (3) the claimant filed a timely application for attorney=s fees; (4) the claimant had a net worth of less than $2 million at the time the complaint was filed; and (5) there are no special circumstances which would make the award of fees unjust. 28 U.S.C. ' 2412(d). 405(g). (Doc. 25.) The same day, the Clerk entered Judgment. (Doc. 26.) On August 22, 2012, Plaintiff filed the instant Petition. Plaintiff attached a copy of the fee agreement, which includes Plaintiff=s assignment of EAJA fees to her counsel. (Doc. 27-1). In light of the assignment, Plaintiff requests that the payment should be made payable to Plaintiff and delivered to Plaintiff=s counsel unless Plaintiff owes a federal debt. If the U.S. Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, the government will accept Plaintiff=s assignment of EAJA fees and pay fees directly to Plaintiff=s counsel. Pursuant to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act (28 U.S.C. '2412(d)), Plaintiff=s Consent Petition for Attorney Fees. (Doc. 27) is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff is awarded attorney=s fees in the amount of $4,709.67. Payment is authorized to Plaintiff=s counsel if the Commissioner determines Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the government. DONE and ORDERED in Ocala, Florida on August 23, 2012. Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record Unrepresented Parties 2

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