Barrett v. Social Security Administration

Filing 29

ORDER by District Judge James H. Payne: affirming and adopting 28 Report and Recommendation; granting 23 Motion for Attorney Fees; granting 26 Supplemental Motion for Attorney Fees (cjt, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
JESSICA MARLENE BARRETT,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
Acting Commissioner of
Social Security Administration,
Defendant.

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Case No. 14-CV-314-JHP-KEW

ORDER AFFIRMING AND ADOPTING THE FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES
MAGISTRATE JUDGE
On November 21, 2016, the United States Magistrate Judge entered a Findings and
Recommendation in regard to Plaintiff’s request for an award of attorney fees under the Equal
Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and supplemental request for attorney
fees. The Magistrate Judge recommended that Plaintiff’s Motions be granted. No party has filed
any objection to the Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation within the time
prescribed by law. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
This Court finds that the Findings and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge is
supported by the record. Therefore, upon full consideration of the entire record and the issues
presented herein, the Court finds and orders that the Findings and Recommendation entered by
the United States Magistrate Judge on November 21, 2016, be AFFIRMED and ADOPTED by
this Court as its Findings and Order. It is ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application for Award of
Attorney’s Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. No. 23) and Supplemental
Application for Award of Attorney’s Fees (Doc. No. 26) are GRANTED and the Government is
ordered to pay Plaintiff’s attorney’s fees in the total amount of $6,180.20.

It is further ORDERED that the award in this case is to be made payable to Plaintiff, not
Plaintiff’s counsel, or jointly to Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s counsel, as 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)(1) and
(d)(1)(A) provide for an award of costs and attorney’s fees to a “prevailing party.” 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 22nd day of February, 2017.

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