Beard v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 27

ORDER granting 25 Motion for Attorney Fees; adopting 26 Report and Recommendations.. Signed by Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. on 8/7/2017. (VMF)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
PAMELA ANN BEARD,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 6:16-cv-1706-Orl-37KRS

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
_____________________________________
ORDER
In the instant appeal, Plaintiff sought judicial review of the Commissioner’s denial
of her claim for social security disability benefits. (Doc. 1.) On June 12, 2017, the Court
granted the Commissioner’s unopposed motion to remand this case for further
administrative proceedings. (Doc. 23.) The following day, the Court entered judgment in
Plaintiff’s favor. (Doc. 24.)
As the prevailing party, Plaintiff now: (1) seeks an award for attorney fees in the
amount of $3,487.32 (“Award”) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”); and
(2) represents that, if the U.S. Department of Treasury determines that she does not owe
a debt to the government, the parties have agreed that the Commissioner will honor
Plaintiff’s assignment of EAJA fees and pay the Award directly to her counsel. 1 (Doc. 25
(“Fees Motion”).) On referral, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla R. Spaulding issued a Report

On August 11, 2016, Plaintiff assigned her right to any fees awarded under the
EAJA to her counsel. (See Doc. 25-1 (“Assignment”).)
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recommending that the Court grant the fees motion. (Doc. 22 (“R&R”).) In doing so,
Magistrate Judge Spaulding concludes that: (1) Plaintiff is entitled to the full amount of
the Award; (2) the hourly rate underlying the award is reasonable, accounting for the
applicable cost-of-living adjustment; and (3) Plaintiff’s counsel spent a reasonable
number of hours on this case. (Doc. 26, pp. 1–2.) In addition, Magistrate Judge Spaulding
recommended that the decision of whether to honor the Assignment be left to the
Commissioner’s discretion. (Id. at 2–3.)
As the Fees Motion is unopposed and neither party has objected to the R&R, 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 no error, much less clear error,
the Court finds that the R&R is due to be adopted in its entirety.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla R. Spaulding’s Report and Recommendation
(Doc. 26) is ADOPTED, CONFIRMED, and made a part of this Order.

2.

Plaintiff’s Uncontested Petition for Attorney’s Fees (Doc. 25) is GRANTED.

3.

The Court awards Plaintiff Pamela Ann Beard attorney fees under the EAJA
in the amount of $3,487.32.

4.

The Commissioner may exercise her discretion to honor Plaintiff’s
assignment of EAJA fees to counsel if the U.S Department of Treasury
determines that Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the U.S. Government.

5.

The Clerk is DIRECTED to close the file.
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DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Orlando, Florida, on August 7, 2017.

Copies to:
Counsel of Record

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