Grant v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

Filing 26

ORDER granting 23 Motion for Attorney Fees in the amount of $3,720.94 and $21.15 in expenses under the EAJA. Signed by Honorable Donald C Coggins, Jr on 9/8/2021.(gnan )

5:20-cv-01019-DCC

Date Filed 09/08/21

Entry Number 26

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ORANGEBURG DIVISION
Shelbia Grant,

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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Commissioner of Social Security,
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Defendant. )
_____________________________________ )

C/A No. 5:20-cv-01019-DCC

ORDER

On August 12, 2021, counsel for Plaintiff, filed a motion for attorney’s fees pursuant
to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). ECF No. 23. In the motion, counsel requests
reimbursement for representation provided in the above-referenced case in the amount
$3,720.94 in fees (representing 8.0 hours of work at a rate of $202.50 per hour for the
attorney and 20.75 hours of work at a rate of $101.25 for the paralegal) and $21.15 in
expenses. Id. Defendant filed a Response to counsel's motion, posing no objection.
ECF No. 24.
Under the EAJA, a court shall award attorney's fees to a prevailing party in certain
civil actions against the United States unless the court finds that the government's position
was substantially justified or special circumstances make an award unjust. 28 U.S.C.
§ 2412(d)(1)(A). To determine whether the Commissioner was “substantially justified” in
terminating social security benefits and thus whether an award of attorney's fees under
the EAJA is warranted, a court asks whether there was arguably substantial evidence to
support the Commissioner's position. Anderson v. Heckler, 756 F.2d 1011 (4th Cir. 1984).

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Date Filed 09/08/21

Entry Number 26

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However, an EAJA attorney's fees award is payable to the litigant and, therefore, is
subject to an offset to satisfy the litigant's pre-existing debt to the Government. Astrue v.
Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 594 (2010).
After careful consideration of the parties' filings and the applicable legal authority,
the Court concludes that the Commissioner's position was not substantially justified and
that the requested fees should be awarded. As noted, the Commissioner does not object
to Plaintiff's motion for an award of fees.
Therefore, Plaintiff's motion for attorney’s fees under the EAJA is granted. The
Commissioner is ordered to award Plaintiff $3,720.94 in attorney’s fees and $21.15 in
expenses. EAJA fees awarded by this Court belong to the Plaintiff and are subject to
offset under the Treasury Offset Program (31 U.S.C. § 3716(c)(3)(B) (2006)). In the event
Plaintiff has no present debt subject to offset and Plaintiff has executed a proper
assignment to Plaintiff’s counsel, Defendant is directed to make the payment due to
Plaintiff’s counsel. If Plaintiff has no debt subject to offset and no proper assignment has
been made by Plaintiff to counsel, Defendant is directed to make the check due pursuant
to this Order payable to Plaintiff and delivered to Plaintiff’s counsel.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Donald C. Coggins, Jr.
United States District Judge
September 8, 2021
Spartanburg, South Carolina