Dresser v. Astrue
Filing
33
ORDER granting 32 Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by Magistrate Judge Clifford J. Proud on 6/28/2013. (jmt).
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
SETH DRESSER,
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Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
Civil No. 12-cv-253-CJP
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
PROUD, Magistrate Judge:
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff’s Application for Award of Attorney’s Fees
Under the Equal Access to Justice Act. (Doc. 32).
Defendant has not filed a response, and the
time for doing so has now expired.
Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. §2412(d)(1)(A), the Court shall
award attorney’s fees and expenses to a prevailing party in a civil action against the United
States, including proceedings for judicial review of agency action, unless the government’s
position was substantially justified. The hourly rate for attorney’s fees is not to exceed $125.00
per hour “unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor,
such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings involved, justifies a
higher fee.” §2412(d)(2)(A).
This case was remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings pursuant to
sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g). Plaintiff is, therefore, the prevailing party. See, Shalala v.
Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993).
Counsel seeks a total of $2,518.94, as set forth in his memorandum in support. See, Doc.
32, Ex. 1.
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The Commissioner has not argued that her position was substantially justified so as to
defeat plaintiff’s claim under the EAJA, or challenged the appropriateness of the hourly rate and
the number of hours claimed.
The Court deems the failure to respond to plaintiff’s Application to be an admission of
the merits thereof. SDIL-LR 7.1. Accordingly, the Court finds that plaintiff is entitled to an
award of attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to the EAJA, and that the hourly rate and number of
hours claimed are reasonable.
Plaintiff’s Application for Attorney’s Fees (Doc. 32) is hereby GRANTED. The Court
awards plaintiff a total of $2,518.94 as fees and costs.
The amount awarded is payable to plaintiff and is subject to set-off for any debt owed by
plaintiff to the United States, per Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521 (2010).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: June 28, 2013.
s/ Clifford J. Proud
CLIFFORD J. PROUD
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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