Ortiz v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 23

ORDER adopting 21 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 20 Unopposed MOTION for Attorney Fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act filed by Javier Pineiro Ortiz. Signed by Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. on 1/10/2018. (JLC)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
JAVIER PINEIRO ORTIZ
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 6:16-cv-1986-Orl-37DCI

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
_____________________________________
ORDER
In this social security appeal, Plaintiff sought review of the Commissioner of Social
Security’s (the “Commissioner”) decision to deny him disability benefits. (See Doc. 1.) On
November 8, 2017, the Court reversed the Commissioner’s final decision and remanded
the action for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. 18.) The following day, the Court
entered judgment in favor of Plaintiff. (Doc. 19.)
As the prevailing party, Plaintiff now: (1) seeks an award for attorney fees under
the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”) in the amount of $3,012.37; and (2) requests that,
if the U.S. Department of Treasury determines that she does not owe a debt to the
U.S. Government, the Commissioner honor Plaintiff’s assignment of the EAJA fees and
pay those fees directly to his counsel. 1 (Doc. 20 (“Fees Motion”).) On referral,
U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel C. Irick recommends that the Court grant the Fees Motion

On October 19, 2016, Plaintiff assigned his right to any fees awarded under the
EAJA to his counsel. (See Doc. 20-1 (“Assignment”).)
1

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in part. (Doc. 21 (“R&R”).)
In his R&R, Magistrate Judge Irick concludes that: (1) Plaintiff is entitled to the
full amount of the requested EAJA fees; and (2) the hours worked and the hourly rate
underlying the award are reasonable. (Id. at 4.) Magistrate Judge Irick, however,
recommends that the Court deny the Fees Motion as to Plaintiff’s request to pay the EAJA
fees directly to his counsel and notes that the decision of whether to honor the
Assignment should be left to the Commissioner’s discretion. (Id. at 4–5.)
On January 9, 2018, the parties filed a joint notice indicating they did not object to
the R&R. (Doc. 22.) Absent objections, the Court has examined the R&R only for clear
error. See 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 clear error, the Court concludes 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 Daniel C. Irick’s Report and Recommendation
(Doc. 21) is ADOPTED, CONFIRMED, and made a part of this Order.

2.

Plaintiff’s Unopposed Motion for Award of Attorney’s Fees (Doc. 20) is
GRANTED IN PART to the extent identified in the R&R.

3.

The Court awards Plaintiff Javier Pineiro Ortiz attorney fees under the
EAJA in the amount of $3,012.37.

4.

The Commissioner may exercise her discretion to honor Plaintiff’s
assignment of the EAJA fees to counsel if the U.S Department of Treasury
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determines that Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the U.S. Government.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Orlando, Florida, on January 10, 2018.

Copies to:
Counsel of Record

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