Queen v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

Filing 29

ORDER granting Plaintiff's 24 Motion for Attorney's Fees in the amount of $4,456.69 and $400.00 in costs. Signed by Honorable J Michelle Childs on 10/27/2017.(gnan )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FLORENCE DIVISION
Thomas Franklin Queen, Jr.,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting
)
Commissioner of Social Security
)
Administration,
)
)
Defendant.
)
____________________________________)

Civil Action No.: 4:16-cv-02321-JMC

ORDER

This matter is before the court on Plaintiff’s motion, through her attorney, Osborne
Eugene Powell, Jr. (“Counsel”), for an award of $4,456.69 in attorney’s fees and $400.00 in
costs1 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). (ECF No. 24.) In a
Response, filed on September 19, 2017, Defendant agreed that Plaintiff should be awarded
$4,456.69 in attorney’s fees and $400.00 in costs. (ECF No. 25.) After reviewing Plaintiff’s
Motion and Defendant’s Response, the court finds that the request for fees is reasonable.
In accordance with Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010), EAJA fees awarded by this
court belong to the litigant and are subject to the Treasury Offset Program. 31 U.S.C. §
3716(c)(3)(B) (2006). Therefore, the court directs that fees be payable to Plaintiff and delivered
to Plaintiff's counsel. The amount of attorney’s fees payable to Counsel will be the balance of
stipulated attorney’s fees remaining after subtracting the amount of Plaintiff’s outstanding
federal debt. If Plaintiff’s outstanding federal debt exceeds the amount of attorney’s fees under

1

Plaintiff’s motion and supporting documents (ECF No. 24, 24-1, 24-2) all request $350.00 in
costs; however, under the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule for the District of South
Carolina, the filing fee for all civil cases is $400.00 (including a $50.00 administrative fee). In
light of the filing fee and the Government’s approval of $400.00 in costs, the court believes
Plaintiff made a typographical error in his motion and meant to request $400.00 in costs. 
1

the stipulation, the stipulated amount will be used to offset Plaintiff’s federal debt and no
attorney’s fees shall be paid. (See ECF No. 25.)
After a thorough review of Plaintiff’s Motion (ECF No. 24) and Defendant’s Response
(ECF No. 25), the court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees (ECF No. 24), and
Plaintiff shall be awarded $4,456.69 in attorney’s fees and $400.00 in costs.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

United States District Judge
October 27, 2017
Columbia, South Carolina

2