Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01973/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01973-2/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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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Candiece Shields, 

 Plaintiff, 

vs. 

Carolyn W. Colvin, 

 Defendant. 

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No. CV-09-1973-PHX-FJM 

ORDER 

 The court has before it plaintiff's Motion for an award of fees under 42 U.S.C. 

section 406(b) (doc. 40), Memorandum (doc. 41), defendant's Response (doc. 43) and 

plaintiff's Reply (doc. 44). Plaintiff seeks an award of fees of $29,626.00, representing 

25% of past due benefits. Having billed 25.5 hours, this represents an hourly rate of 

$1,161.80. Plaintiff acknowledges that the hourly rate is "high," but argues that it is "not 

unreasonable." Reply at 2. (doc. 44). Defendant acknowledges that it is not a party to a 

fee award under section 406(b), unlike the earlier award under the Equal Access to 

Justice Act, but invites us to scrutinize the request because it is so much higher than 

awards it has identified in its Response at 3 (doc. 43). 

Case 2:09-cv-01973-FJM Document 45 Filed 06/15/15 Page 1 of 2
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 The test, of course, is one of reasonableness. In awarding fees under the Equal 

Access to Justice Act, we declined to award a special factor enhancement because we 

saw this as a routine case not involving complex issues. Order of Aug. 22, 2011, at 2. 

(doc. 37). Here, we have past due benefits that are relatively large compared to the 

amount of time spent on the case. Moreover, the itemization of services, doc. 41-3, 

shows just how little was required to process this case. Although we acknowledge that 

contingent fees must be adjusted to accommodate cases that are lost, we nevertheless 

conclude that the request here is unreasonable. We think a fee at about twice a 

reasonable hourly rate in this community is high enough to accommodate the risk of 

losses. Much beyond that is excessive. Accordingly, we reduce the request to 

$17,850.00 (25.5 hours @ $700.00 per hour). 

 It is therefore ORDERED GRANTING plaintiff's Motion for an award of fees 

under section 406(b) in the amount of $17,850.00. (Doc. 40). It is further ORDERED 

that upon receipt of this award, plaintiff's counsel shall refund to plaintiff the fee awarded 

under the Equal Access to Justice Act ($4,461.21)(doc. 37). 

 Dated this 15th day of June, 2015. 

 

Case 2:09-cv-01973-FJM Document 45 Filed 06/15/15 Page 2 of 2