Lewis v. Social Security Administration

Filing 26

ORDER by District Judge James H. Payne: granting 23 plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees (cjt, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

DALE G. LEWIS,

Plaintiff,
vs.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social
Security Administration,
Defendant.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No. 10-046-JHP-KEW

ORDER
Plaintiff, Dale G. Lewis, has moved the court for an award of attorney fees under the Equal
Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C., §2412(d). The Commissioner has not filed an Objection
to the amount claimed by Plaintiff.
Section 2412(d)provides that a prevailing party other than the United States shall be awarded
fees unless the court finds that the position of the United States was substantially justified or that
special circumstances make an award unjust. With respect to EAJA applications in Social Security
cases, the Commissioner has the burden of showing that its position was substantially justified.
Hadden v. Bowen, 851 F.2d 1266, 1267 (10th Cir. 1988). The Commissioner must prove that her
case had a reasonable basis in law and in fact. Id. "The term `substantially justified' has been
defined as `justified in substance or in the main--that is, justified to a degree that could satisfy a
reasonable person.'" (quoting Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988)).
Based on an independent review of the record, the court concludes that 1) plaintiff is a
prevailing party, 2) the government's position was not substantially justified, and 3) the requested

amount is reasonable. Consequently, the court finds the plaintiff is entitled to an attorney's fee
award under the EAJA in the amount of $5,309.30 in attorney fees.
Further, if plaintiff's counsel is ultimately granted attorney fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§406(b)(1), she shall refund the smaller award to the plaintiff pursuant to Weakley v. Bowen, 803
F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986).

IT IS SO ORDERED this 10th day of November, 2011.