Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_04-cv-05115/USCOURTS-arwd-5_04-cv-05115-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

NADINE ZACHARY PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 04-5115

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, Commissioner

Social Security Administration DEFENDANT

O R D E R

Plaintiff Nadine Zachary appealed the Commissioner's denial of benefits to this court. On May

20, 2005, judgment was entered reversing the decision of the Administrative Law Judge and

remanding plaintiff's case to the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

Plaintiff now moves for an award of $4,329.45 in attorney's fees and costs under 28 U.S.C. § 2412,

the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), requesting compensation for 30 hours of work before the

court at an hourly rate of $143.50 per hour and $24.45 in expenses. Plaintiff's counsel sought $143.50

an hour based on an increase in the cost of living. Defendant has filed a response, stating she has no

objection to the fee award.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A), the court must award attorney's fees to a prevailing

social security claimant unless the Commissioner's position in denying benefits was substantially

justified. The burden is on the Commissioner to show substantial justification for the government's

denial of benefits. Jackson v. Bowen, 807 F.2d 127, 128 (8th Cir. 1986). After reviewing the file, we

find plaintiff is a prevailing party in this matter. Under Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993),

a social security claimant who obtains a sentence-four judgment reversing the Commissioner's denial

of benefits and remanding the case for further proceedings is a prevailing party. 

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Attorney's fees may not be awarded in excess of $125.00 per hour - the maximum statutory

rate under § 2412(d)(2)(A) - unless the court finds that an increase in the cost of living or a special

factor such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys justifies a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. §

2412(d)(2)(A). The decision to increase the hourly rate is not automatic and remains at the discretion

of the district court. McNulty v. Sullivan, 886 F.2d 1074 (8th Cir. 1989). In Johnson v. Sullivan, 919

F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1990), the court stated that the hourly rate may be increased when there is

"uncontested proof of an increase in the cost of living sufficient to justify hourly attorney's fees of

more than $75.00 an hour" Id. at F.2d 503. Plaintiff's counsel attached a summary of the Consumer

Price Index as an exhibit to his motion for attorney's fees and has presented evidence of an increase

in the cost of living. Therefore, his argument for enhanced fees, based on a cost of living increase,

has merit. We find plaintiff's attorney entitled to an enhanced fee based upon a rise in the cost of

living. 

This court believes that an hourly fee of $143.50 per hour would appropriately enhance the

mandated hourly fee to reflect the increase in cost of living. We further find that plaintiff's attorney

is entitled to be compensated under EAJA for 30 hours, the number of hours of work he indicates he

expended on this case at the district court level. 

Plaintiff also seeks the reimbursement of $24.45 in expenses. Defendant has no objection.

Such expenses are recoverable under EAJA and counsel is entitled to recover the $24.45. 

Based on the above, plaintiff's attorney is hereby awarded fees and costs under EAJA in the

amount of $4,329.45. This amount should be paid in addition to, and not out of, any past-due benefits

which plaintiff may be awarded in the future. 

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IT IS SO ORDERED this 15 day of September 2005. th

/s/Beverly Stites Jones 

HON. BEVERLY STITES JONES

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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