Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-01581/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-01581-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:0405wc Review of HHS Decision (DIWC)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HELEN SKYLAR,

Plaintiff,

v. 

ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of 

Social Security, 

Defendant.

Case No. 19cv1581-MMA (NLS)

ORDER GRANTING JOINT 

MOTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES 

PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL 

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

[Doc. No. 22] 

On August 22, 2019, Plaintiff Helen Skylar filed a complaint against the

Commissioner of Social Security, seeking judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision 

denying her application for disability benefits. See Doc. No. 1. The parties jointly 

moved to remand the action to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings 

pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). See Doc. No. 20. The Court granted the 

motion and remanded the action to the Social Security Administration for further 

administrative proceedings consistent with the terms set forth in the parties’ joint motion. 

See Doc. No. 21. The parties now stipulate to and jointly move for an award to Plaintiff 

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of attorney’s fees in the amount of $2,514.25 under the Equal Access to Justice Act 

(“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of $400.00 pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 1920. See Doc. No. 22.

The EAJA allows a prevailing party to seek attorney’s fees from the United States 

within thirty days of final judgment. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). “A plaintiff who obtains a 

sentence four remand is considered a prevailing party for purposes of attorneys’ fees.” 

Akopyan v. Barnhart, 296 F.3d 852, 854 (9th Cir. 2002). Therefore, Plaintiff is the 

prevailing party in this action for purposes of awarding attorney’s fees. “A sentence four 

remand becomes a final judgment, for purposes of attorneys’ fees claims brought 

pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), upon expiration of the time for appeal.” Id. 

Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1)(B) provides for a sixty-day appeal period in 

cases in which the United States is a party or a United States officer or employee is sued 

in an official capacity. As such, there is a “final judgment” and the parties’ joint motion 

is timely. See Hoa Hong Van v. Barnhart, 483 F.3d 600, 608 (9th Cir. 2007) (holding 

that “a successful disability applicant may file for attorneys’ fees 30 days after the 60–

day appeal period provided for in Rule 4(a) has run, regardless of the specific form of the 

court’s judgment, or the particular nature of the government’s non-opposition to or 

acquiescence in an award of benefits.”). 

The amount of fees awarded are based upon prevailing market rates for the kind 

and quality of the services provided. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A). The hourly rate 

may not exceed $125 per 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.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). The Ninth 

Circuit’s 2019 statutory maximum hourly rate under the EAJA, adjusted for increases in 

the cost of living, was $205.25. See “Statutory Maximum Rates Under the Equal Access 

to Justice Act,” https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/content/view.php?pk_id=0000000039 (last 

accessed 4/27/2020) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (d)(2)(A); Thangaraja v. Gonzales, 428 

F.3d 870, 876-77 (9th Cir. 2005); Ninth Circuit Rule 39-1.6). 

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At an hourly rate of $205.25, the requested fee award represents compensation for 

approximately 12.25 hours of work performed by Plaintiff’s counsel. The Court finds the

fee request reasonable, particularly in light of the fact that counsel prepared and filed a 

motion for summary judgment prior to the government stipulating to remand the action to 

the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings. See Doc. Nos. 16, 20. 

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the parties’ joint motion and AWARDS

Plaintiff attorney’s fees in the amount of $2,514.25 and costs in the amount of $400.00. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATE: April 28, 2020

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