Gooding v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 30

ORDER adopting 29 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 28 Unopposed MOTION for Attorney Fees Pursuant to EAJA filed by Martha Gooding. Signed by Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. on 10/8/2019. (ctp)(JLC)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
MARTHA GOODING,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 6:18-cv-348-Orl-37LRH

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
_____________________________________
ORDER
On May 17, 2019, judgment was entered in favor of Plaintiff Martha Gooding after
the Court reversed the Commissioner of Social Security’s final decision and remanded
the case for further administrative proceedings. (Docs. 26, 27.) As the prevailing party,
Plaintiff now seeks an award of $5,400.20 in attorneys’ fees under the Equal Access to
Justice Act (“EAJA”). 1 (Doc. 28 (“Motion”).) On referral, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie R.
Hoffman recommends granting the Motion to the extent that Plaintiff be awarded
$5,400.20 in attorneys’ fees. (Doc. 29 (“R&R”).) Construing the Motion as also requesting
the Court order the Government to honor Plaintiff’s Assignment of attorneys’ fees to her
counsel, Magistrate Judge Hoffman recommends denying this request and allowing the
Government to exercise its discretion in deciding whether to honor the Assignment. (Id.

Plaintiff assigned her right to attorneys’ fees to her counsel, Shea A. Fugate.
(Doc. 28-3 (“Assignment”).) As Defendant did not respond to the Motion, it is unclear
whether the Commissioner opposes the Assignment.
1

at 5.)
The parties did not object to the R&R, and the time for doing so has now passed.
Absent objections, the Court has examined the R&R 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 Macort v. Prem, Inc., 208 F. App’x 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006). Finding no such 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 Leslie R. Hoffman’s Report and Recommendation
(Doc. 29) is ADOPTED, CONFIRMED, and made a part of this Order.

2.

Plaintiff Martha Gooding’s Unopposed Motion for Award of Attorney Fees
Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. 28) is GRANTED IN
PART AND DENIED IN PART:
a.

The Motion is GRANTED to the extent that Plaintiff is awarded
$5,400.20 in attorneys’ fees pursuant to the EAJA.

b.

In all other respects, the Motion is DENIED.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Orlando, Florida, on October 7, 2019.

Copies to:
Counsel of Record