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)
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.
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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.
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