Burton v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 30

ORDER granting 28 Motion for Attorney Fees and awarding fees in the amount of $4764.30. Signed by Magistrate Judge Charles B Goodwin on 11/07/2017. (jb)

Download PDF
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA ROBIN BRIAN BURTON, Plaintiff, v. NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner of Social Security Administration,1 Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. CIV-15-1039-CG ORDER On September 11, 2017, the Court entered an Opinion and Order and a Judgment reversing the decision of the Acting Commissioner and remanding this case for further proceedings. See Doc. Nos. 26, 27. Plaintiff Robin Brian Burton now requests an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. See Pl.’s Mot. Att’y Fees (Doc. No. 28). Defendant has responded that she has no objection to the requested fee award. See Def.’s Resp. (Doc. No. 29). Having considered Plaintiff’s unopposed request and the relevant record, the Court finds that: “(1) [P]laintiff is a ‘prevailing party’; (2) the position of the United States was not ‘substantially justified’; and (3) there are no special circumstances that make an award of fees unjust” in this case. Hackett v. Barnhart, 475 F.3d 1166, 1172 (10th Cir. 2007) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A)). The Court therefore GRANTS Plaintiff’s request 1 Nancy A. Berryhill, the current Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is hereby substituted as Defendant in this matter pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. No. 28) and awards fees in the amount of $4764.30, with said amount to be paid directly to Plaintiff and sent in care of Troutman & Troutman PC, 1350 S. Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74119. If attorney’s fees are also awarded under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), Plaintiff’s counsel shall refund the smaller award to Plaintiff pursuant to Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986). IT IS SO ORDERED this 7th day of November, 2017. 2

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?