Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_04-cv-05034/USCOURTS-arwd-5_04-cv-05034-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (DIWC)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

JOHNNY D. HALL PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 04-5034

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, Commissioner

Social Security Administration DEFENDANT

O R D E R

Plaintiff Johnny D. Hall appealed the Commissioner's denial of benefits to this court. On March

2, 2005, judgment was entered remanding plaintiff's case to the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four

of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Plaintiff now moves for an award of $3,293.60 in attorney's fees and costs under

28 U.S.C. § 2412, the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), requesting compensation for 25 hours of

work at an hourly rate of $125.00, and $168.60 in costs. The defendant did not file a response and the

time for responding has expired.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A), the court must award attorney's fees to a prevailing

social security claimant unless the Commissioner's position in denying benefits was substantially

justified. The burden is on the Commissioner to show substantial justification for the government's

denial of benefits. Jackson v. Bowen, 807 F.2d 127, 128 (8th Cir. 1986). After reviewing the file, we

find plaintiff is a prevailing party in this matter. Under Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993),

a social security claimant who obtains a sentence-four judgment reversing the Commissioner's denial

of benefits and remanding the case for further proceedings is a prevailing party. 

Plaintiff requests attorney's fees under EAJA at a rate of $125.00 an hour. We find plaintiff's

attorney entitled to compensation at this rate. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A) (setting standard

maximum hourly rate at $125.00). We further find that plaintiff’s attorneyis entitled to be compensated

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under EAJA for 25 hours, the number of hours of work she indicates she expended on this case at the

district court level. Additionally, this court finds plaintiff’s counsel is entitled to costs in the amount

of $168.60

Accordingly, plaintiff's attorney is hereby awarded fees and costs under EAJA in the amount of

$3,293.60, representing 25 hours of work at the district court level at a rate of $125.00 an hour plus

$168.60 in expenses. This amount should be paid in addition to, and not out of, any past due benefits

to which plaintiff may be awarded in the future.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 15 day of September 2005. th

/s/Beverly Stites Jones 

HON. BEVERLY STITES JONES

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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