Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_00-cv-20763/USCOURTS-cand-5_00-cv-20763-0/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 (DIWW)

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 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited.

Case No. C 00-20763 JF

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES

(JFLC1)

**E-Filed 12/14/2006**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

ROBERT M. JAKOB,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, Commissioner, Social

Security Administration,

 Defendant.

Case Number C 00-20763 JF

ORDER1 GRANTING APPLICATION

FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S

FEES

[re: docket no. 19]

Plaintiff Robert M. Jakob (“Plaintiff”) seeks an award of attorney’s fees of $18,309.50. 

The motion is unopposed. For the reasons discussed below, the Court will grant the motion.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff filed the instant action on July 14, 2000, seeking review of an adverse decision

by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Defendant” or “Commissioner”). 

On April 9, 2002, the Court granted Defendant’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed

the case. On April 18, 2002, Petitioner filed a notice of appeal. On November 22, 2002,

Case 5:00-cv-20763-JF Document 20 Filed 12/14/06 Page 1 of 4
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 The agreement provides: “I will pay Harvey P. Sackett, subject to the approval of the

Social Security Administration, a fee no greater than 25% of the gross past-due benefits owed to

me (and my auxiliary beneficiaries, if applicable).”

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Case No. C 00-20763 JF

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES

(JFLC1)

following stipulation by the parties, the action was remanded to the Commissioner for further

administrative proceedings. On December 23, 2002, the Court issued a stipulated order granting

Plaintiff attorney’s fees of $4,500.00 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”).

On November 3, 2006, Plaintiff moved for an award of attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. §

406(b). Plaintiff represents in his motion and accompanying exhibits that subsequent to the

remand, an Administrative Law Judge issued a favorable decision for Plaintiff on June 23, 2006. 

See Motion Ex. A. On November 3, 2006, the Social Security Administration calculated past

due benefits of $89,238.00, and withheld $22,309.50 for attorney’s fees. See Motion Ex. B. This

withholding is equivalent to the amount agreed to in Plaintiff’s agreement with counsel, see

Motion Ex. B.,2 and represents the percentage approved by the Social Security Administration. 

See Motion Ex. A. Of this $22,309.50, Plaintiff seeks $4,000.00 in a separate motion at the

administrative level. Plaintiff’s counsel seeks the remaining $18,309.50 for appearances before

this Court. Counsel states in the motion that he would reimburse Plaintiff the $4,500 previously

paid in accordance with the EAJA, for a net cost to Plaintiff of $13,809.50.

 II. LEGAL STANDARD

In an action for past due benefits under 42 U.S.C. § 406, “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.” 

42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A). “§ 406(b) does not displace contingent-fee agreements as the primary

means by which fees are set for successfully representing Social Security benefits claimants in

court. Rather, § 406(b) calls for court review of such arrangements as an independent check, to

assure that they yield reasonable results in particular cases.” Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S.

789, 807 (2002). 

III. DISCUSSION

The Court concludes that the attorney’s fees sought by Plaintiff’s counsel are reasonable

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 $18,309.50 divided by 30.35 hours.

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Case No. C 00-20763 JF

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES

(JFLC1)

within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A) and Gisbrecht. Plaintiff’s counsel declares that

he spent 30.35 hours working on the merits of this action in this Court. See Motion Ex. D. Such

an amount of time is reasonable given the complexity of the case. The effective hourly rate of

$603.283 is reasonable considering the contingent nature of the representation, counsel’s noncontingent rate of $475.00, and the experience and skill of counsel. 

Counsel already has received $4,500.00 in fees under the EAJA, and any award under 42

U.S.C. § 406(b) must be reduced by that amount. Gisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 796. Accordingly, the

Court orders that Plaintiff's counsel be allowed to collect attorney’s fees in the amount of

$18,309.50 under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), and that counsel shall reimburse Plaintiff the $4,500.00

already received pursuant to the EAJA. 

IV. ORDER

Good cause therefor appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s application

for attorney’s fees is GRANTED.

DATED: December 14, 2006

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

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Case No. C 00-20763 JF

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Jocelyn Burton Jocelyn.Burton@usdoj.gov 

Gail Killefer gkillefer@aol.com 

Harvey P. Sackett hps@hpspc.com, lucyc@sackettlaw.com; julie@sackettlaw.com;

juanita@sackettlaw.com 

Notice will be delivered by other means to: 

Robert S. Mueller , III

U S Attorney's Office

Criminal Division

450 Golden Gate Ave

San Francisco, CA 94102

Case 5:00-cv-20763-JF Document 20 Filed 12/14/06 Page 4 of 4