Moran v. Colvin
Filing
23
DECISION AND ORDER granting Pltf's 21 Motion for Attorney Fees. Pltf's counsel shall refund the Pltf the sum of $5,150.00 previously awarded to counsel pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act. Pltf's counsel is awarded fees in the sum of $11,150.43 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 406(b). Signed by Judge David N. Hurd on 10/25/17. (sfp, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
-------------------------------CHAD MORAN,
Plaintiff,
-v-
3:14-CV-0833
(DNH)
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner of
Social Security,
Defendant.
-------------------------------APPEARANCES:
LACHMAN, GORTON LAW FIRM
Attorneys for Plaintiff
P.O. Box 89
Endicott, NY 13761-0089
PETER A. GORTON, ESQ.
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Attorneys for Defendant
Office of Regional General Counsel
26 Federal Plaza - Room 3904
New York, NY 10278
GRAHAM MORRISON, ESQ.
DAVID N. HURD
United States District Judge
DECISION AND ORDER
On May 26, 2015, plaintiff’s counsel was awarded Five Thousand One Hundred Fifty
Dollars ($5,150.00) in attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (28 U.S.C. §
2412). See Consent Order, ECF No. 20. On April 24, 2017, plaintiff filed the pending motion for
additional attorney’s fees seeking an award of Eleven Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars and
Forty Three Cents ($11,150.43) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406. See ECF No. 21. The Social
Security Administration has submitted a response. See ECF No. 22.
42 U.S.C. § 406(b) provides that whenever a court renders a judgment favorable to
a Social Security claimant who was represented by an attorney, the court “may determine and
allow as part of its judgment” reasonable attorney fees not in excess of 25 percent of the total
of the past due benefits to which the claimant is entitled. See 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A). In
determining whether a fee is reasonable under Section 406(b), a court should look first to the
contingent-fee agreement and then test for reasonableness based on the character of the
representation and the results achieved. See Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 808 (2002).
Th Commissioner of Social Security may advise regarding the reasonableness of the amount of
fees sought under Section 406(b). See Briem v. Barnhart, 2006 WL 3374955 at *1 (W.D.N.Y.
Nov. 17, 2006).
After remand of this action, the Commissioner determined that plaintiff was entitled to
past due benefits and withheld 25 percent of the total past due benefit amount. See Declaration
of Peter Gorton, Ex. B, ECF No. 21-3. Plaintiff’s counsel has submitted contemporaneous time
records evidencing 27.3 hours of attorney time. See Gorton Decl., Ex. A, ECF No. 21-2. The
Commissioner has reviewed plaintiff’s motion and found that the request of plaintiff is reasonable
and does not oppose the fee award. Review of plaintiff’s motion and supporting documentation
evidences that plaintiff’s request for $11,150.43 in attorney’s fees is reasonable and appropriate.
As a result, plaintiff’s motion will be granted.
Plaintiff’s counsel was previously awarded $5,150.00 in attorney’s fees pursuant to the
Equal Access to Justice Act. Pursuant to the 1985 Amendments to the EAJA, where counsel
receives fees for the same work under the EAJA and 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), counsel must return
the lesser of the two fees to plaintiff. See Wells v. Bowen, 855 F.2d 37, 42 (2d Cir. 1988). As
such, plaintiff’s counsel shall refund to plaintiff the $5,150.00 awarded in EAJA fees.
-2-
For the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED that
(1) Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) (ECF No. 21)
is GRANTED;
(2) Plaintiff’s counsel shall refund to the plaintiff the sum of Five Thousand One
Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,150.00) previously awarded to counsel pursuant to the Equal Access
to Justice Act; and
(3) Plaintiff’s counsel is awarded fees in the sum of Eleven Thousand One Hundred
Fifty Dollars and Forty Three Cents ($11,150.43) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).
The Clerk of the Court is directed to close the file.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 25, 2017
Utica, New York
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