Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-02477/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-02477-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Peggy A. Petri, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

Carolyn W. Colvin, acting Commissioner 

of Social Security, 

Defendant. 

No. CV-10-02477-PHX-JAT 

ORDER 

 Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s Attorney’s Amended Motion for an Award 

of Attorneys’ Fees under 42 U.S.C. §406(b) (Doc. 36). The Court now rules on the 

Motion. 

 Plaintiff’s counsel seeks $9,659.25 in attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

406(b). Section 406(b) provides that, whenever the Court renders a favorable judgment 

to a social security claimant, the Court may award reasonable attorneys’ fees for 

representation of the claimant. 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A). The reasonable fee cannot 

exceed twenty-five percent of the total past-due benefits awarded to the claimant. Id. 

The fee is payable out of, and not in addition to, the amount of the past-due benefits. Id.

 Section 406(b) “does not displace contingent-fee agreements as the primary means 

by which fees are set for successfully representing” social security claimants in court. 

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

 Plaintiff and her counsel had a contingent-fee agreement in this case typical of fee 

agreements in disability benefits cases. The contingent-fee agreement provides that 

Case 2:10-cv-02477-JAT Document 37 Filed 09/19/13 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff’s counsel’s fee shall equal twenty-five percent of all past-due benefits awarded 

to Plaintiff and any other individuals entitled to benefits by reason of the award to 

Plaintiff. (Doc. 38-1). Twenty-five percent of the total amount of past-due benefits 

awarded to Plaintiff and others as a result of the Judgment in her favor is $9,659.25. 

Plaintiff’s counsel therefore seeks an award of attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,659.25. 

The Commissioner does not object to this amount. 

 Because the Court finds the contingent fee in this case is reasonable, the Court will 

award Plaintiff’s counsel attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,659.25 pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 406(b). 

 Based on the foregoing, 

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Attorney’s Amended Motion for an Award of 

Attorneys’ Fees under 42 U.S.C. §406(b) (Doc. 36) is granted in the amount of 

$9,659.25. 

 Dated this 19th day of September, 2013. 

Case 2:10-cv-02477-JAT Document 37 Filed 09/19/13 Page 2 of 2