Minnick v. Colvin

Filing 20

ORDER GRANTING 19 Plaintiff's Motion for EAJA Fees signed by Hon. Brian A Tsuchida.(AE)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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SHELLY J. MINNICK,
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Plaintiff,

Case No. 2:17-cv-00093-BAT

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ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION FOR EAJA FEES

v.
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NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
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Defendant.
Shelly J. Minnick, the prevailing party in this Social Security disability appeal, moves
under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), for an award of attorney’s
fees of $7,509.15 and expenses of $7.20. Dkt. 19. The Commissioner filed no opposition to the
motion. The Court GRANTS Ms. Minnick’s requests for fees and costs.
The EAJA authorizes payment of attorney’s fees to a prevailing party in an action against
the United States, unless the court finds that the government’s position on the merits in the
litigation was “substantially justified.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). Substantial justification
requires the government to demonstrate its position had a reasonable basis in both law and fact at
each stage of the proceedings, including both the government’s litigation position, and the
underlying agency action giving rise to the civil action. Tobeler v. Colvin, 749 F.3d 830, 832–34

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ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
FOR EAJA FEES - 1

1 (9th Cir. 2014). The Commissioner has made no such showing and has not objected to the
2 amount of fees requested. The Court has reviewed Ms. Minnick’s motion, supporting
3 declaration (Dkt. 91-2), and the record, and finds the amount requested is reasonable. The Court
4 therefore ORDERS:
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Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees and costs (Dkt. 19) is GRANTED and Plaintiff is

6 awarded attorney’s fees of $7,509.15 and costs of $7.20, for a total award of $7,516.35. If the
7 EAJA fees are not subject to any offset allowed under the Department of Treasury’s Offset
8 Program, then the check should be made payable to Ms. Minnick’s attorney, Eitan Kassel
9 Yanich, and mailed to Eitan Kassel Yanich, PLLC, 203 Fourth Avenue E., Suite 321, Olympia,
10 WA. 98501.
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DATED this 9th day of January, 2018.

A

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BRIAN A. TSUCHIDA
United States Magistrate Judge

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ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
FOR EAJA FEES - 2