Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02453/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02453-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:205 Denial Social Security Benefits

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

WILLIAM R. HAWORTH, SR., 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security, 

Defendant. 

No. 2:13-cv-2453-EFB (TEMP) 

ORDER 

 Counsel for plaintiff in the above-entitled action seeks an award of attorney fees in the 

amount of $22,389.95 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).1 The court previously awarded plaintiff a 

fee of $7,000.00 pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). 

ECF No. 37. Plaintiff explains that the $22,389.95 equals 25 percent of past benefits due 

plaintiff. ECF No. 38 at 3. Plaintiff entered into a fee agreement with his attorney which 

provides that plaintiff would pay his attorney 25 percent of any past-due benefits won as a result 

of the appeal in his case, plus expenses. ECF No. 38-3 at 1-2. Plaintiff’s counsel submitted a 

declaration showing that she spent 38.3 hours on plaintiff’s case. 

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 Defendant has filed a statement of non-opposition to plaintiff’s motion. ECF No. 40. 

Case 2:13-cv-02453-EFB Document 41 Filed 06/07/16 Page 1 of 3
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 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A) provides, in relevant part: 

Whenever a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant under 

this subchapter who was represented before the court by an 

attorney, 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 of the past-due benefits to which the claimant is entitled 

by reason of such judgment. 

 Rather than being paid by the government, fees under the Social Security Act are awarded 

out of the claimant’s disability benefits. Russell v. Sullivan, 930 F.2d 1443, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991), 

receded from on other grounds, Sorenson v. Mink, 239 F.3d 1140, 1149 (9th Cir. 1991). While 

25 percent of past due benefits is the statutory maximum fee, it is not an automatic entitlement; 

the court also must ensure that the requested fee is reasonable. Bisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 

789, 808-09 (2002) (“We hold that § 406(b) does not displace contingent-fee agreements within 

the statutory ceiling; instead, § 406(b) instructs courts to review for reasonableness fees yielded 

by those agreements.”). “Within the 25 percent boundary. . . the attorney for the successful 

claimant must show that the fee sought is reasonable for the services rendered.” Id. at 807. 

 After plaintiff was found disabled, he was awarded past-due benefits. ECF No. 38-1 at 1. 

Through the instant motion, plaintiff’s counsel seeks an award of $22,389.95, which represents 25 

percent statutory maximum. Id. at 3. Counsel provides that upon receipt of a fee award in the 

amount of $22,389.95, she will refund the plaintiff the sum of $7,000.00 previously awarded 

under the EAJA. ECF No. 38 at 3. An award of $22,389.95 based on 38.3 hours of attorney time 

would constitute an hourly rate of $584.59. Based on the risk of loss taken in representing 

plaintiff, the quality of counsel’s representation, and her experience in the field of Social Security 

law, the court finds that rate to be reasonable. See Hearn v. Barnhart, 262 F. Supp. 2d 1033, 

1037 (N.D. Cal. 2003) (discussing cases where courts granted fees based on hourly rates from 

$187.55 to $694.44, and awarding effective hourly rate of $450.00). Further, given the result 

achieved in this case, the court finds the amount of hours expended to be reasonable. Therefore, 

plaintiff’s counsel should be awarded the sum of $22,389.95 in fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 406(b). 

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 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 

 1. Plaintiff’s counsel’s motion for attorney’s fees (ECF No. 38) is granted; 

 2. Plaintiff’s counsel is awarded $22,389.95 in fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b); and 

 3. Upon receipt of the $22,389.95 award, counsel shall refund to plaintiff the sum of 

$7,000.00 previously awarded under the EAJA. 

DATED: June 6, 2016. 

Case 2:13-cv-02453-EFB Document 41 Filed 06/07/16 Page 3 of 3