Squiller, Steven v. Colvin, Carolyn

Filing 27

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 21 Motion for Attorney Fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 406(b). Plaintiff's attorney awarded attorney fees in the amount of $3,800. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 8/18/17. (jat)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

STEVEN E. SQUILLER,

ORDER
Plaintiff,

15-cv-485-wmc

v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

Plaintiff’s counsel seeks an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $14,963.50
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). As Attorney Olinsky explains in his affidavit in support
of the motion, Squiller was awarded $83,854.00 in past due benefits after a on stipulated
remand from this court. Section 406(b) contemplates a fee award not to exceed 25% of
the past due benefits, which here works out to a maximum award of $20,963.50. Attorney
Olinsky “reduced” this possible total fee award amount by $6,000, reportedly to account
for an award by the Agency to another attorney who represented Squiller in administrative
proceedings, and further represents that if awarded the amount requested, he will refund
Squiller the $1,197.50 the court previously awarded Olinsky under the EAJA.
The Commissioner appropriately filed a response to the 406(b) fee request, pointing
out the possibility of a “windfall recovery” by counsel because the requested fee amount
implies an hourly rate, counting attorney time only, of $3,937.00 per hour. See Heise v.
Colvin, No. 14-CV-739-JDP, 2016 WL 7266741, at *2 (W.D. Wis. Dec. 15, 2016)

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(addressing proper calculation of hourly rate under § 406(b)).

The court agrees this

implied hourly rate would constitute a windfall, and, thus, finds the fee request is not
reasonable.

See Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 807 (2002).

Plaintiff’s counsel

expended only 3.8 hours in representing plaintiff before this court. Indeed, the parties
stipulated to remand before plaintiff even filed his opening brief. Given that plaintiff’s
counsel has failed to provide any justification for this effective hourly rate, plaintiff’s
motion for fees (dkt. #21) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. Using the
award in similar cases as a guide, the court further concludes that a rate of $1,000 per hour
is reasonable. As such, the court approves an award of $3,800, contingent on plaintiff’s
counsel remitting the EAJA award of $1,197.50 to plaintiff. See 42 U.S.C. 406(b).
Entered this 18th day of August, 2017.
BY THE COURT:

/s/
___________________________________________
WILLIAM M. CONLEY
District Judge

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