Heath v. Social Security Administration

Filing 25

OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge T Lane Wilson ; granting 23 Motion for Attorney Fees (crp, Dpty Clk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
JULIE F. HEATH,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration,
Defendant.

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Case No. 15-cv-536-TLW

OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to
Justice Act. (Dkt. 23). Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (the
“EAJA”) in the total amount of $3,363.00. The Commissioner does not object to the request.
(Dkt. 24).
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 17.7
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 Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to the Equal
Access to Justice Act (dkt. 23) 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 5th day of January, 2017.

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