Watts v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 25

ORDER granting 24 Unopposed Motion for Attorney's Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act. Attorney fees totaling $8,463.67 are awarded to Plaintiff. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter an amended judgment. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier on 2/6/2024. (brh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
MELISSA LYNN WATTS,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No.: 6:22-cv-2131-DNF

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
OPINION AND ORDER
This cause is before the Court on Plaintiff Melissa Lynn Watts’s Unopposed
Motion for Attorney’s Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, filed on
February 5, 2024. (Doc. 24). Plaintiff requests that the Court enter an order awarding
attorney fees of $8,463.67 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28
U.S.C. § 2412(d). For the reasons explained below, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s
request will be GRANTED.
For Plaintiff to receive an award of fees under EAJA, these five conditions
must be established: (1) Plaintiff must file a timely application for attorney fees; (2)
Plaintiff’s net worth must have been less than $2 million dollars at the time the
Complaint was filed; (3) Plaintiff must be the prevailing party in a non-tort suit
involving the United States; (4) The position of the United States must not have been

substantially justified; and (5) There must be no special circumstances that would
make the award unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d); Comm’r, I.N.S. v. Jean, 496 U.S. 154,
158 (1990). The Commissioner does not contest that the five conditions are met, and
on review, all the conditions for EAJA fees have been satisfied.
EAJA fees are determined under the “lodestar” method by determining the
number of hours reasonably expended on the matter multiplied by a reasonable
hourly rate. Jean v. Nelson, 863 F.2d 759, 773 (11th Cir. 1988). The resulting fee
carries a strong presumption that it is the reasonable fee. City of Burlington v. Daque,
505 U.S. 557, 562 (1992). Plaintiff’s counsel spent 36.99 hours in EAJA related
representation of Plaintiff before this Court. (Doc. 24-1, p. 2). Based on an
agreement between the parties, Plaintiff has reduced her request for fees by two
hours for work performed in 2023 and has waived any paralegal fees. (Doc. 24-1, p.
2). After reviewing the description of services provided, the Court determines that
the hours expended are reasonable.
EAJA fees are “based upon prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of
services furnished,” not to exceed $125 per hour unless the Court determines that an
increase in the cost of living or a special factor justifies a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. §
2412(d)(2)(A). Determination of the appropriate hourly rate is thus a two-step
process. The Court first determines the prevailing market rate; then, if the prevailing
rate exceeds $125.00, the Court determines whether to adjust the hourly rate. Meyer

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v. Sullivan, 958 F.2d 1029, 1033-34 (11th Cir. 1992). The prevailing market rates
must be determined according to rates customarily charged for similarly complex
litigation, and are not limited to rates specifically for social security cases. Watford
v. Heckler, 765 F.2d 1562, 1568 (11th Cir. 1985). Plaintiff is requesting hourly rates
of $234.95 for 2022, and $244.62 for 2023, for counsel. (Doc. 24-1, p. 3). The Court
finds these hourly rates are reasonable. Accordingly, the Court will award Plaintiff’s
attorney fees totaling $8,463.67.
Plaintiff attached an Assignment of Equal Access to Justice Act “EAJA” fees,
signed by Plaintiff. (Doc. 24-3). In the assignment, Plaintiff assigns her right to any
attorney fees awarded under EAJA to her attorney. (Doc. 24-3). Rather than ordering
fees be paid directly to counsel, the trend appears to be toward leaving the matter to
the discretion of the Commissioner. See Torres v. Kijakazi, No. 6:20-cv-1471-JRK,
2022 WL 6163063, at *4 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 7, 2022) (collecting cases). The Court will
follow this trend.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:
(1)

Plaintiff’s Unopposed Motion for Attorney’s Fees Pursuant to the
Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. 24) is GRANTED.

(2)

Attorney fees totaling $8,463.67 are awarded to Plaintiff.

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(3)

The Commissioner may exercise her discretion to honor Plaintiff’s
assignment of fees to counsel if the United States Department of the
Treasury determines that Plaintiff owes no federal debt.

(4)

The Clerk of Court is directed to enter an amended judgment.

DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on February 6, 2024.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

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