Taylor v. Commissioner of SSA
Filing
30
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING 28 MOTION for Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42 USC 406(b)and Supporting Brief MOTION for Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42 USC 406(b)and Supporting Brief filed by Wrey L Taylor. Signed by Magistrate Judge John D. Love on 7/1/2013. (gsg)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
WREY L. TAYLOR
§
v.
§
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:09-CV-189
§
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY’S
FEES PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)
On April 28, 2009, Plaintiff initiated this lawsuit by filing a complaint seeking judicial
review of the Commissioner’s decision denying his application for Social Security benefits.
The
matter was referred to for findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations for the
disposition of pending motions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
Background
The Commissioner filed an answer to the complaint on September 22, 2009. Plaintiff filed
his opening brief on February 11, 2010. The Commissioner then filed a motion to remand on May
12, 2010. Also on May 12, 2010, the Court issued a Report and Recommendation that the motion
be granted and the case be reversed and remanded. On June 3, 2010, the District Court adopted the
Report and Recommendation and entered a Final Judgment reversing and remanding the decision
of the Administrative Law Judge.
1
On July 6, 2010, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Attorney Fees pursuant to the Equal Access to
Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412, in the amount of $4,439.98. The Court granted the motion
and awarded the aggregate amount on August 2, 2010.
On remand, Plaintiff was found disabled and entitled to a period of disability and disability
insurance benefits and was awarded past due benefits. See Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 406(b) )docket entry #28) at Exhibit B (Social Security Administration letter of March 7,
2012)). Movant, Plaintiff’s counsel,1 then filed the instant motion on June 11, 2013, seeking fees
for representation in this Court in the amount of $20,512.50, citing the Social Security
Administration’s letter of March 7, 2012, and follow-on letter of January 16, 2013. See id. at Exhibit
B.
Movant explains that this amount is the balance after payment to Plaintiff’s counsel at the
administrative level under § 406(a). See id. at 5. Movant further states that in recognition of the
$4,439.98 already paid under the EAJA, he moves for payment in the effective amount of
$16,075.52. Id.2
1
This motion actually covers the work of two attorneys. Elizabeth Bower Dunlap
started the representation; when she was nominated as an Administrative Law Judge for the
Social Security Administration, she moved for a substitution of counsel, see docket entry #18,
which the Court granted. She was succeeded by Movant filing this motion, Michael P. Dunlap.
Id. This award of fees apparently would be split between them for their respective work.
2
There are two problems arising from Movant’s motion. First, the amount
withheld by the Administration for payment under § 406(b) is reflected as $21,512.50 in the
Administration’s letter of January 16, 2013 (Exhibit B), not the $20,512.50 as stated in the
motion. However, inasmuch as that is the amount requested, that is the amount the Court will
address. Second, the difference between $20,512.50 and $4,439.98 is $16,072.52, not
$16,075.52 as stated in the motion. Given that payment of the full amount will be directed and
that Movant will have to refund the $4,439.98 EAJA payment to Plaintiff as stated herein, the
latter point is not material.
2
The Commissioner filed her response on June 17, 2013. The Commissioner’s position is that
(1) the Administration cannot withhold an offset amount for the earlier payment of $4,439.98 under
the EAJA, but that Movant will have to refund that amount to Plaintiff himself; and (2) it is up to
the Court to determine the amount to be paid under § 406(b). See Comm’r Response at 4.
Discussion
The Act provides that when a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant who was
represented by an attorney in a Social Security disability matter, the court may determine and allow
as part of its judgment a reasonable fee for such representation, not in excess of 25 percent of the
total for past- due benefits to which the claimant is entitled. 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1). The District
Court can only award fees for work performed before the Court, and not for any work performed at
the administrative level. Mudd v. Barnhart, 418 F.3d 424, 427 (4th Cir.2005); Brown v. Sullivan,
917 F.2d 189, 191 (5th Cir.1990), abrogated on other grounds, Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789,
122 S. Ct. 1817, 152 L. Ed. 2d 996 (2002).
Here, the Commissioner has affirmed that the amount reserved for payment of attorney fees
under § 406(b) is $21,512.50, consistent with 25% of the past-due benefits paid to Plaintiff in this
case. Further, the contingency fee agreement between Movant and Plaintiff is in the amount not to
exceed 25% of benefits awarded. See Motion at Exhibit A. In addition, Movant has demonstrated
that he has performed 26.2 hours of representation in this Court. See id. at 7 (citing earlier motion
for attorney fees under the EAJA with documenting timesheets at docket entry #25). As noted
above, the Commissioner does not object to the fee, though she notes that if the full 25% were to be
paid, it would amount to a per-hour rate of $651.62. However, the amount requested in Movant’s
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motion is less, as is the per-hour rate. In light of the work performed and absent an objection, the
Court finds that the amount of the requested award is reasonable. Gisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 808.
Movant acknowledges that he has already been awarded attorney fees in the amount of
$4,439.98 under the EAJA and that the lesser of the award under the EAJA or the award under §
406(b) must be refunded to the Plaintiff. See Motion at 4; Astrue v. Ratliff, - - - U.S. - - - -, 130 S.
Ct. 2521, 2528 n.4, 177 L. Ed. 2d 91 (2010) (citing 1985 amendment note to 28 U.S.C. § 2412).
.
After due consideration, in light of the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED that Movant’s Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) (docket
entry #28) is hereby GRANTED. Movant shall be awarded the sum of $20,512.50 to be paid out
of Plaintiff’s past-due benefits for representation before this Court in this matter. It is further
ORDERED that, concomitant with the award of attorney fees under § 406(b) herein, Movant
shall refund the amount of $4,439.98 to Plaintiff.
SIGNED this 19th day of December, 2011.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 1st day of July, 2013.
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