Elliott v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

Filing 38

ORDER granting 32 Motion for Attorney Fees per Rule 406b and Plaintiff is awarded $4,855.70 in attorney's fees. Signed by Honorable Timothy M Cain on 5/10/2017.(gnan )

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ORANGEBURG DIVISION
Gregory S. Elliott,

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

C/A 5:14-3524-TMC

ORDER

This matter is before the court on Plaintiff’s motion for attorney's fees pursuant to the Social
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). (ECF No. 32). Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney's fees in the
amount of $4,855.70. Id. The Commissioner1 has filed a response informing the court that she does
not object to Plaintiff’s motion for fees. (ECF No. 35).
Pursuant to Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 808 (2002), in reviewing a request for
attorney’s fees under § 406(b), a court must look first to the contingent fee agreement and assess its
reasonableness. A reduction in the contingent fee may be appropriate when (1) the fee is out of line
with the character of the representation and the results achieved; (2) counsel's delay caused past-due
benefits to accumulate during the pendency of the case in court, or (3) past-due benefits are large
in comparison to the amount of time counsel spent on the case. Id.
Based upon a review of the petition and these factors, the court finds that an award of
$4,855.70 is reasonable. Pursuant to a contingency fee agreement, Plaintiff agreed to pay counsel
twenty-five percent (25%) of any past-due benefits. (ECF No. 32-3). Plaintiff was awarded

1

Nancy A. Berryhill became the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration on January 27, 2017. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), Berryhill should be
substituted for Carolyn W. Colvin as the defendant in this action.

$19,422.80 in back benefits (ECF No. 32-2) and, in compliance with 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A),
counsel's requested fee does not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of these past-due benefits.
Furthermore, the requested attorney's fee is reasonable given that counsel expended 31.10 hours
working on this matter at the court level. (ECF No. 32-4). Wrenn v. Astrue, 525 F.3d 931, 937 (10th
Cir. 2008) (noting that under § 406(b) the court makes fee awards only for work done before the
court). Additionally, Plaintiff's counsel achieved a successful result without any unreasonable delay.
In light of counsel's specialized skill in social security disability cases, the attorney's fee award does
not amount to a windfall. Cf. Brown v. Barnhart, 270 F.Supp.2d 769, 772–73 (W.D.Va. 2003).
Therefore, based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees (ECF No. 32) is
granted, and Plaintiff is awarded $4,855.70 in attorney’s fees, as requested.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Timothy M. Cain
United States District Judge

May 10, 2017
Anderson, South Carolina

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