Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-07-07058/USCOURTS-ca10-07-07058-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 

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* After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral

argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore

ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding

precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and

collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent

with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 

FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

June 11, 2008

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

CHRISTOPHER HUSBAND,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,

Commissioner, Social Security

Administration,

Defendant-Appellee.

No. 07-7058

(D.C. No. 05-CV-285-FHS)

(E.D. Okla.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before KELLY, McKAY, and BRISCOE, Circuit Judges.

Christopher Husband appeals the district court’s order directing the

payment of attorney’s fees awarded under the Equal Access to Justice Act

(EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), to him rather than to his attorney. Exercising

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

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The EAJA provides, in pertinent part,

Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall

award to a prevailing party other than the United States fees and

other expenses . . . incurred by that party in any civil action (other

than cases sounding in tort), including proceedings for judicial

review of agency action, brought by or against the United States in

any court having jurisdiction of that action, unless the court finds

that the position of the United States was substantially justified or

that special circumstances make an award unjust.

28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). The question presented in this appeal is whether the

district court erred in refusing to order payment of the EAJA fee award directly to

Mr. Husband’s attorney.

On the Commissioner’s motion, we stayed this appeal pending our decision

in Manning v. Astrue, 510 F.3d 1246 (10th Cir. 2007), pet. for cert. filed,

__ U.S.L.W. __ (U.S. May 22, 2008) (No. 07-1468). In Manning we held that the

EAJA “statutory language clearly provides that the prevailing party, who incurred

the attorney’s fees, and not that party’s attorney, is eligible for an award of

attorney’s fees.” Id. at 1249-50. We concluded that the legislative history and

uncodified portions of the EAJA also supported our interpretation. Id. at

1251-52. And we rejected further arguments to the contrary, based upon an

alleged “chilling effect” of our decision on claimants’ attempts to obtain

representation and the claimed inconsistency of not awarding EAJA fees to pro se

claimants. Id. at 1254, 1253. We acknowledged ordering payment of EAJA fees

directly to counsel in Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986), but

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we noted that case did not address whether the claimant or the claimant’s attorney

was entitled to recover the fees. Manning, 510 F.3d at 1253. Finally, we

recognized the Commissioner’s previous practice of paying EAJA fees directly to

claimants’ attorneys, but emphasized that “we are bound by the statutory

language, legislative history, and case law.” Id. at 1255.

We addressed each of Mr. Husband’s appeal arguments in Manning and our

decision in that case is controlling. We therefore conclude that the district court

correctly ordered payment of the EAJA fees award to Mr. Husband, rather than to

his attorney.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

Entered for the Court

Paul J. Kelly, Jr.

Circuit Judge

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