Head v. Social Security Administration
Filing
28
OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge T Lane Wilson ; granting 26 Motion for Attorney Fees (crp, Dpty Clk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
CECIL HEAD,
Plaintiff,
vs.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner,
Social Security Administration,
Defendant.
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Case No. 10-cv-45-TLW
OPINION AND ORDER
Before the undersigned is plaintiff’s Application for Attorney’s Fees Under the Equal
Access to Justice Act Fees. (Dkt. # 26). Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney fees pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2412 (the “EAJA”) in the total amount of $4,913.30. The Commissioner does not object
to the request. (Dkt. # 27).
Title 28, Section 2412 of the U.S. Code requires the United States to pay attorney fees and
expenses to a “prevailing party,” unless the Court finds the position of the United States was
substantially justified, or special circumstances make an award unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
The United States bears the burden of proving that its position was substantially justified. Kemp
v. Bowen, 822 F.2d 966, 967 (10th Cir. 1987). In addition, once an EAJA application is filed, the
government must justify both its position in any underlying administrative proceedings and in any
subsequent court litigation. Hackett v. Barnhart, 475 F.3d 1166, 1170 (10th Cir. 2007). Since
the government does not object to the requested award, there can be no finding that the government
has met its burden of showing that its position was substantially justified.
Only “reasonable attorney fees” may be awarded under the EAJA.
28 U.S.C. §
2412(d)(2)(A). The Court is required to examine the request to determine whether the fees
requested are reasonable, and the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the requested hours are
reasonable. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 437 (1983). Plaintiff seeks an award for 27.15
hours of attorney time expended on this federal action. The undersigned has reviewed the time
records submitted by plaintiff’s counsel and finds them to be reasonable.
Based on the foregoing, plaintiff’s Application for Fees (dkt. # 26) is GRANTED.
Pursuant to the Commissioner’s usual practice, the check should be made payable to plaintiff and
mailed to counsel’s address. See Manning v. Astrue, 510 F.3d 1246, 1254-55 (10th Cir. 2007)
(the award of EAJA attorney fees is to claimant and not to the attorney). If attorney fees are also
awarded and received by counsel under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) of the Social Security Act, counsel is
directed to refund the smaller award to plaintiff pursuant to Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580
(10th Cir. 1986).
SO ORDERED this 25th day of July, 2011.
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