Harris v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 40

ORDER granting 38 Motion for Attorney Fees. See Order for further details. Signed by Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli on 11/18/2021. (BMM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
RUSTY HARRIS,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 8:19-cv-1468-AEP

KILOLO KIJAKAZI,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security, 1
Defendant.
/
ORDER
This cause comes before the Court upon Plaintiff’s Unopposed Motion for
Attorney’s Fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). (Doc. 38). On September 24, 2020,
this Court entered an Order reversing and remanding the decision of the
Commissioner under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. 34). Upon remand,
the Commissioner issued a favorable decision for Plaintiff resulting in an award of
disability benefits. (Doc. 38-2). As a result of the favorable decision, Plaintiff’s
counsel now seeks payment of fees in the amount of $12,164.00 pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 406(b). The Court previously awarded Plaintiff’s fees in the amount of

Kilolo Kijakazi is now the Commissioner of Social Security. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi should be
substituted for Commissioner Andrew M. Saul as the defendant in this matter. No further
action needs to be taken to continue this matter by reason of the last sentence of section
205(g) of the Social Security Act. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
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$3,817.70 pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
(Doc. 37). The Commissioner does not oppose the requested relief.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), when a court renders a judgment favorable to a
Social Security claimant who was represented before the court by counsel, the court
may allow a reasonable fee for such representation, not to exceed twenty-five
percent of the total past-due benefits to which the claimant is entitled. 42 U.S.C. §
406(b)(1)(A). A plaintiff’s counsel may recover attorney’s fees under both 42 U.S.C.
§ 406(b) and EAJA. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 796 (2002). The plaintiff’s
attorney must, however, refund to the plaintiff the amount of the smaller fee. Id.
Here, the Social Security Administration withheld a total of $12,164.00 from
Plaintiff’s past-due benefits for possible payment of attorney’s fees in federal court
(Doc. 38-2, at 2). Upon review of the fee agreement (Doc. 38-1) and the itemization
of services rendered by counsel (Doc. 38-3), the Court determines that an award of
fees in the amount of $12,164.00 is reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, it is
hereby
ORDERED:
1. Plaintiff’s request for an award of attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)
(Doc. 38) is GRANTED.
2. Plaintiff’s counsel is awarded fees in the amount of $12,164.00 pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).

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DONE AND ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on this 18th day of November,
2021.

cc: Counsel of Record

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