Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_21-cv-01827/USCOURTS-azd-2_21-cv-01827-0/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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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Lora Reidhead,

Plaintiff,

v. 

Commissioner of Social Security 

Administration,

Defendant.

No. CV-21-1827-PHX-MTL

ORDER 

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Lora Reidhead’s unopposed Motion for Award 

of Attorney’s Fees Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). (Docs. 24, 25.) Section 406(b)(1) authorizes 

the recovery of reasonable attorney’s fees from the award of past-due benefits.

Whenever a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant 

under this subchapter who was represented before the court by 

an attorney, the court may determine and allow as part of its 

judgment a reasonable fee for such representation, not in 

excess of 25 percent of the total of the past-due benefits to 

which the claimant is entitled by reason of such judgment, and 

the Commissioner of Social Security may, notwithstanding the 

provisions of section 405(i) of this title, but subject to 

subsection (d) of this section, certify the amount of such fee for 

payment to such attorney out of, and not in addition to, the 

amount of such past-due benefits.

42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A).

Plaintiff prevailed in her appeal to this Court from the administrative law judge’s 

decision, obtaining a stipulated remand to offer Plaintiff a new decision. (Docs. 19, 20.)

Case 2:21-cv-01827-MTL Document 26 Filed 01/17/25 Page 1 of 2
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This remand resulted in Defendant awarding $52,836.78 in past due benefits to Plaintiff. 

(Doc. 24-2 at 2.)

Having successfully litigated this case, Plaintiff’s Counsel seeks an award of 

$13,209.19 in fees from Plaintiff’s recovery. (Doc. 24 at 1.) The Court previously awarded 

Plaintiff $4,902.91 in attorney fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). 

(Docs. 22, 23.) Plaintiff’s Counsel acknowledges that a § 406(b)(1) fee award must be 

offset by the previously awarded EAJA attorney fee. (Doc. 24 at 12-13.)

The Court finds that the representation agreement between Plaintiff and her Counsel 

represents a lawful contingency fee agreement. See Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 

793 (2002). In that agreement, Plaintiff agreed to pay 25 percent of all past-due benefits 

and acknowledged that the Social Security Administration would withhold 25 percent of 

the past-due benefits to pay for attorneys’ fees. (Doc. 24-4 at 1.) Counsel spent 22.82 hours 

resolving this case. (Doc. 24-3.) The Court further finds that the effective hourly rate of 

$578.84 for work performed before the District Court is a reasonable hourly rate 

considering the type of work, Counsel’s experience, and the contingency nature of the fee 

agreement. The Court finds that the hours expended by Counsel at the District Court are 

reasonable. Finally, the Court finds that the requested fee award is below the statutory cap 

of 25 percent of the total past-due benefits.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Motion (Doc. 24) is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s Counsel is 

awarded attorney’s fees in the amount of $13,209.19 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Counsel shall reimburse Plaintiff in 

the amount of $4,902.91, representing the EAJA fees previously awarded.

Dated this 17th day of January, 2025.

Case 2:21-cv-01827-MTL Document 26 Filed 01/17/25 Page 2 of 2