Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01855/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01855-3/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KYLE LYNCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

No. 2:13-cv-1855 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 $26,176.001for 28.8 hours of professional time devoted 

to the representation of plaintiff before this court. 

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.

 

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 In the motion, plaintiff asks for an award of net attorney fees in the amount of $21,026.00, 

acknowledging that the fee award must be offset by the amount of $5,150 for fees previously 

awarded under EAJA.

Case 2:13-cv-01855-CKD Document 22 Filed 10/03/16 Page 1 of 2
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Rather than being paid by the government, fees under the Social Security Act are awarded out of 

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 28.8 hours. Based on the quality of counsel’s representation and 

the results achieved in this case, the undersigned finds the amount of hours expended to be 

reasonable. The hourly rate of $908, while high, is also reasonable given the quality of counsel’s 

representation and the result obtained in this matter. Accordingly, the undersigned will award the 

amount of attorney fees requested.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s counsel is awarded $26,176.00

in attorney fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 406. Plaintiff’s counsel shall refund to plaintiff the 

amount of $5,150 for fees previously awarded under EAJA, if said fees have previously been 

remitted by plaintiff to counsel. 

Dated: October 3, 2016

4 lynch1855.406.ss

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:13-cv-01855-CKD Document 22 Filed 10/03/16 Page 2 of 2