Dewald v. Astrue

Filing 30

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION FOR DISPOSITION OF MOTION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS. Objections to R&R due by 2/9/2009. Signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on 1/22/2009. (JCM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA CENTRAL DIVISION
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B A R B A R A L. D E W A L D , Plaintiff,
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2 2 "009

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CIV.07-3036-CBK

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REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS * F O R D I S P O S I T I O N OF M O T I O N F O R * A W A R D OF A n O R N E Y ' S F E E S A N D C O S T S * *
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-vsM I C H A E L J. A S T R U E , C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Social Security, Defendant.

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Plaintiff, B a r b a r a L. Dewald, b y and through h e r attorney, S t e v e n R. Pfeiffer, filed a motion s e e k i n g an a w a r d o f a t t o r n e y ' s fees a n d costs p u r s u a n t to t h e Equal A c c e s s to Justice A c t ( E A J A ) , 18 U . S . C . §2412(d), and a m e m o r a n d u m in s u p p o r t thereof, D o c k e t Nos. 22, 23. D e f e n d a n t , M i c h a e l J. Astrue, has filed a r e s p o n s e to P l a i n t i f f s m o t i o n , r e s i s t i n g t h e s a m e , D o c k e t N o . 26. T h e D i s t r i c t Court! r e f e r r e d the m o t i o n to this C o u r t p u r s u a n t to 28 U . S . c . § 6 3 6 ( b )(3), D o c k e t No. 27. T h e r e a f t e r , t h e p a r t i e s filed a j o i n t stipulation a g r e e i n g to an a w a r d o f $ 7 , 5 0 0 i n a t t o r n e y ' s fees, plus sales tax thereon. T h e C o u r t has r e v i e w e d the j o i n t s t i p u l a t i o n and b e l i e v e s t h a t b a s e d on the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e a w a r d agreed u p o n is j u s t a n d r e a s o n a b l e u n d e r the c i r c u m s t a n c e s . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e C o u r t h e r e b y R E C O M M E N D S t h a t the p a r t i e s ' j o i n t s t i p u l a t i o n b e a d o p t e d a n d t h a t the s u m o f $7,500 in a t t o r n e y ' s fees, plus applicable sales tax, be p a i d directly to Mr. Pfeiffer.

lThe Honorable Charles B. Kornmann, United States District Judge, presiding.

Dated this 2 2 n d day o f January, 2009, at Pierre, South Dakota.

BY THE COURT:

MARK A. MORENO U N I T E D STATES M A G I S T R A T E J U D G E ATIEST: JOSEPH HAAS, CLERK

BY:<:~
NOTICE

(SEAL)

Failure to file written objections to the within and foregoing Report and R e c o r r u n e n d a t i o n w i t h i n t e n ( 1 0 ) d a y s f r o m the d a t e o f s e r v i c e s h a l l b a r a n a g g r i e v e d p a r t y from attacking s u c h R e p o r t a n d Recommendations b e f o r e the assigned United States District J u d g e . S e e 28 V . S . c . § 6 3 6 ( b ) ( 1 ) .

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