Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01973/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01973-1/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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Plaintiff’s reply suggests reimbursement for 31.9 hours of attorney time. In light of

plaintiff’s other filings related to this motion, all indicating 25.5 hours, we assume the

reference in the reply is an error. 

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Candiece Shields, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social

Security Administration, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-09-1973-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorney’s fees under the

Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412, (“EAJA”) (doc. 30) and memorandum in

support (doc. 31), defendant’s response (doc. 33), and plaintiff’s reply (doc. 36). 

On March 2, 2011, we held that the ALJ’s decision denying disability benefits was

not supported by sufficient findings and remanded the case for further administrative

proceedings (doc. 28). Plaintiff then filed this timely motion for attorney’s fees under the

EAJA for 25.5 hours1

 of work performed from July 2009 through April 2011, in the amount

of $4,461.21, with a requested enhancement to $7,011.21. 

Case 2:09-cv-01973-FJM Document 37 Filed 08/22/11 Page 1 of 3
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The EAJA provides for an award of attorney’s fees to a prevailing party unless

government’s position in defending the case was substantially justified. Id. § 2412(d)(1)(A).

The Commissioner does not contest the propriety of a fee award or the number of hours

sought to be reimbursed. The Commissioner argues, however, that the enhanced hourly rate

is not justified. 

The EAJA generally provides that attorney’s fees are limited to $125 an hour “unless

the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the

limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings involved, justifies a higher fee.”

Id. § 2412(d)(2)(A). The Commissioner agrees that a cost-of-living adjustment to $172.24

an hour for work performed in 2009 and $175.06 an hour for work performed in 2010 and

2011 is appropriate. He objects, however, to plaintiff’s request for a fee enhancement of an

additional $100 per hour. 

In order to establish entitlement to an enhanced fee under the EAJA, plaintiff must

show that her attorney (1) possesses a distinctive knowledge and specialized skill, (2) that

was necessary to the litigation in question, and (3) was not available elsewhere at the

statutory rate. Nadarajah v. Holder, 569 F.3d 906, 912 (9th Cir. 2009). It is generally held

that a social security practice does not involve a “specialized skill” sufficient to warrant an

enhanced rate. See, e.g., Raines v. Shalala, 44 F.3d 1355, 1361 (7th Cir. 1995); Stockton v.

Shalala, 36 F.3d 49, 50 (8th Cir. 1994); cf. Pirus v. Bowen, 869 F.2d 536, 542 (9th Cir. 1989)

(allowing an enhanced fee in a social security class action lawsuit, but noting that it “was no

routine disability case”). Moreover, the particular case must require some “specialized skill”

or “distinctive knowledge” that is not available elsewhere at the statutory rate. This was a

routine social security disability case that did not involve complex issues requiring a

specialized knowledge or skill. Plaintiff has made no showing that qualified counsel was not

otherwise available. We conclude that, while plaintiff is entitled to a cost-of-living

adjustment to the statutory hourly rate, she has failed to carry her burden of establishing that

she is entitled to a special factor enhancement. 

Therefore, IT IS ORDERED GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART

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plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorney’s fees (doc. 30). We grant plaintiff attorney’s fees

in the amount of $4,461.21. 

DATED this 22nd day of August, 2011.

Case 2:09-cv-01973-FJM Document 37 Filed 08/22/11 Page 3 of 3