Jones v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 21

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 18 Motion for Attorney Fees; adopting 19 Report and Recommendations. Signed by Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. on 7/11/2017. (ZRR)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
FREDRICKA PANDREICKA JONES,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 6:16-cv-755-Orl-37GJK

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
_____________________________________
ORDER
In the instant appeal, Plaintiff sought review of the Commissioner’s denial of her
claim for social security disability benefits. (Doc. 1.) On March 16, 2017, the Court entered
judgment in Plaintiff’s favor and reversed and remanded this case for further
administrative proceedings. (Doc. 17.)
As the prevailing party, Plaintiff now seeks: (1) an award of attorney fees in the
amount of $3,390.98 (“Award”) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”); and (2)
to direct payment of the Award to her counsel. 1 (Doc. 18 (“Fees Motion”).) On referral,
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory J. Kelly issued a Report recommending that the Court
grant the Fees Motion in part. (Doc. 19 (“R&R”).) In doing so, Magistrate Judge Kelly
concludes that: (1) Plaintiff is entitled to the full amount of the Award as the prevailing
party; (2) the hourly rates underlying the Award do not exceed the statutory maximum

On April 12, 2016, Plaintiff assigned her right to any fees awarded under the
EAJA to her counsel. (See Doc. 18-1 (“Assignment”).)
1

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under the EAJA; and (3) the Court should deny the Assignment because it violates the
Anti-Assignment Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3727(b). (Id. at 2–3.)
As the parties have filed a joint notice of no objection to the R&R (Doc. 20), the
Court has reviewed it only for clear error. Wiand v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
No. 8:12-cv-557-T-27EAJ, 2016 WL 355490, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 28, 2016); see also Marcort
v. Prem, Inc., 208 F. App’x 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006). Finding none, the Court agrees with
Magistrate Judge Kelly and adopts the R&R in its entirety.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1.

U.S. Magistrate Gregory J. Kelly’s Report and Recommendation (Doc. 19) is
ADOPTED, CONFIRMED, and made a part of this Order.

2.

Plaintiff’s Uncontested Motion for Attorney Fees (Doc. 18) is GRANTED
IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.
a.

The Motion is GRANTED to the extent that the Court awards
Plaintiff attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act in the
amount of $3,390.98.

b.

In all other respects, the Motion is DENIED. However, the
Commissioner may exercise her discretion to honor Plaintiff’s
Assignment if the U.S. Department of the Treasury determines
that Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the U.S. Government.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Orlando, Florida, on July 11, 2017.

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Copies to:
Counsel of Record

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