Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00440/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00440-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LOREN FARIA,

Plaintiff,

v.

ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of Social 

Security,

Defendant.

No. 2:18-cv-00440 CKD

ORDER

Based on 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), counsel for plaintiff in the above-entitled action seeks an 

award of attorney fees in the amount of $14,100.00 for 37.6 hours of professional time devoted to 

the representation of plaintiff before this court. Counsel concedes that this amount should be 

offset in the amount of $6,500.00 for fees previously awarded under EAJA. (ECF No. 28.) 

Defendant has filed a response to plaintiff’s amended request.

42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A) provides, in relevant part:

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.

Rather than being paid by the government, fees under the Social Security Act are awarded out of 

Case 2:18-cv-00440-CKD Document 30 Filed 04/20/20 Page 1 of 2
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the claimant’s disability benefits. Russell v. Sullivan, 930 F.2d 1443, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991), 

receded from on other grounds, Sorenson v. Mink, 239 F.3d 1140, 1149 (9th Cir. 2001). 

However, the 25 percent statutory maximum fee is not an automatic entitlement; the court also 

must ensure that the requested fee is reasonable. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 808-09 

(2002) (“We hold that § 406(b) does not displace contingent-fee agreements within the statutory 

ceiling; instead, § 406(b) instructs courts to review for reasonableness fees yielded by those 

agreements.”). “Within the 25 percent boundary ... the attorney for the successful claimant must 

show that the fee sought is reasonable for the services rendered.” Id. at 807. 

Counsel seeks fees for 37.6 hours. The Court has considered the character of counsel’s 

representation and the good results achieved by counsel, which included an award entitling 

plaintiff to $81,748.00 in past-due benefits. (ECF No. 28, Exh. A.) Counsel has submitted a 

billing statement documenting a total of 37.6 attorney hours in 2018. (Id., Exh. E.) There is no 

indication that a reduction of the award is warranted due to any substandard performance by 

plaintiff’s counsel, as counsel secured a successful result. There is also no evidence that 

plaintiff’s counsel engaged in any dilatory conduct resulting in delay. 

Based on the quality of counsel’s representation and the results achieved in this case, the 

undersigned finds the number of hours expended to be reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned 

will award the amount of attorney fees requested.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s amended motion for attorney fees (ECF No. 28) is granted; and

2. Plaintiff’s counsel is awarded $14,100.00 in attorney fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 406, 

to be offset in the amount of $6,500.00 previously awarded under EAJA. Plaintiff’s 

counsel shall reimburse Loren Faria in the amount of $6,500.00. 

Dated: April 20, 2020

2/faria0440.fee-406(a)

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:18-cv-00440-CKD Document 30 Filed 04/20/20 Page 2 of 2