Hawley v. Astrue
Filing
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ORDER granting 36 Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by District Judge Terrence W. Boyle on 4/23/2015. The parties are reminded to read the order in its entirety. (Downing, L.)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
No. 5:12-CV-645-BO
TONYAHA WLEY,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
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ORDER
This matter is before the Court on plaintiffs Motion for attorney's fees and costs
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), to which the
government has responded. [DE 36, 37]. For the reasons discussed below, plaintiffs motion is
GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Hawley sought appellate review of the Commissioner's decision before this Court on
October 2, 2012. After a hearing on October 30, 2013, the Court granted plaintiffs motion for
judgment on the pleadings and remanded the case to the Commissioner for further proceedings.
[DE 32]. On December 9, 2013, the Court awarded plaintiff$3,515.00 in attorney's fees. [DE
35]. Upon remand, a fully favorable decision was issued by the ALJ. [DE 36-1]. On February 8,
2015, the Social Security Administration issued a notice explaining that it was withholding
$26,226.23 for attorney's fees, representing 25% of plaintiffs accrued back benefits. [DE 36-2].
Plaintiffnow seeks an award of attorney's fees in the amount of$12,000.00, pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 406(b), as a more reasonable fee in light of the time expended on the case. [DE 36].
Defendant neither opposes nor supports plaintiffs request. [DE 37].
DISCUSSION
The key question for the Court in awarding attorney's fees is whether the fee is
reasonable in light of the circumstances of the case. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 809
(2002). Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), attorney's fees are paid from past-due benefits awarded to the
claimant. 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). An attorney may not recover more than 25% of the past-due
benefits pursuant to a contingency-fee arrangement.§ 406(b)(1)(A). A reduction in a contingent
fee may be appropriate when the fee is disproportionate to "the character of the representation
and the results ... achieved," counsel's delay caused past-due benefits to accumulate "during the
pendency of the case in court," or past-due benefits "are large in comparison to the amount of
time counsel spent on the case." Gisbrecht, 418 F.3d at 428. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
has directed district courts to consider, inter alia, the complexity of the case, the lawyering skills
necessary to handle it effectively, the risks involved, the significance of the result achieved in
district court when analyzing whether a contingency-fee arrangement is reasonable. Mudd v.
Barnhart, 418 F.3d 424,428 (4th Cir. 2005)
Counsel's requested fee award constitutes approximately 12% of plaintiffs accrued back
benefits. Accordingly, the requested fee does not represent the maximum fee award possible.
While the Court is mindful that it may only award attorney's fees for representation in court or
for court related work, the level of work required at the agency level demonstrates that this was a
complicated case requiring a skilled lawyer. See id. (noting that the time spent and work
performed by counsel on the case at the agency level could be a factor in the reasonableness
inquiry). Counsel had multiple hearings in front of an ALJ. Moreover, when looking at the
ultimate result here, which was a fully favorable decision, it is clear that counsel's success in the
district court led to a significant result for plaintiff. Additionally, none of the Gisbrecht factors
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are present in this case. As discussed above, the contingent fee is not out of line with the
representation and results. Counsel did not delay in this case nor does the contingent fee
represent a windfall in comparison with the amount of time counsel spent on the case.
Accordingly, the Court finds that the requested fee is reasonable and grants plaintiffs
motion. The Commissioner of Social Security is directed to pay the sum of $12,000.00 for
attorney's fees from plaintiffs back benefits pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). Upon receipt ofthe
§ 406(b) fee, plaintiffs counsel is directed to reimburse the EAJA fee of$3,515.00.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiffs motion is GRANTED, and the Commissioner of
Social Security is directed to pay the sum of $12,000.00 for attorney's fees, after which
plaintiffs counsel will reimburse plaintiff for the EAJ A fee of $3,515.00
SO ORDERED, thiso2J_ day of April, 2015.
LJJ.'\.-''~NCE W. BOYLE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JU
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