Batise v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 25

ORDER granting 24 Motion for Attorney Fees and awarding fees in the amount of $4,962.50. Signed by Magistrate Judge Charles B Goodwin on 11/28/2017. (jb)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA DIETRA BATISE ex rel. T.M.B., Plaintiff, v. NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. CIV-16-904-CG ORDER On September 8, 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. 22, 23. Plaintiff Dietra Batise now requests an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. See Pl.’s Mot. Att’y Fees (Doc. No. 24). Defendant has filed no objection to Plaintiff’s request within the time allowed. See LCvR 7.1(g). Having considered Plaintiff’s unopposed request and the relevant record, the Court finds that: (1) Plaintiff “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 (Doc. No. 24) and awards fees in the amount of $4,962.50, with said amount to be paid directly to Plaintiff and sent in care of Casey L. Saunders Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 2318, Ada, Oklahoma, 74821. 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 28th day of November, 2017. 2

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