Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01634/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01634-7/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN OLIVERI,

Plaintiff,

v.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

No. 2:11-cv-1634 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 $18,331.65 for 27.9 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 $5,061.40 for fees previously awarded under EAJA. 

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 

the claimant’s disability benefits. Russell v. Sullivan, 930 F.2d 1443, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991), 

Case 2:11-cv-01634-CKD Document 32 Filed 07/27/15 Page 1 of 2
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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 27.9 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. While the hourly rate of $657 is somewhat elevated, plaintiff’s counsel has reduced 

the amount requested from $26,731.65 (25% of past due benefits which plaintiff agreed to by 

contract) to $18,331.65. Considering the entirety of the record is this matter, the court finds the 

hourly rate is also reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned will award the amount of attorney 

fees requested.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s counsel is awarded $18,331.65

in attorney fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 406, to be offset in the amount of $5,061.40 previously 

awarded under EAJA.

Dated: July 24, 2015

4 oliveri1634.406

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:11-cv-01634-CKD Document 32 Filed 07/27/15 Page 2 of 2