Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02127/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02127-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:205 Denial Social Security Benefits

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN ROSS,

Plaintiff,

v.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

No. 2:13-cv-2127 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 $5,955.00 for 23.8 hours of professional time devoted to 

the representation of plaintiff before this court. Counsel contends that this amount should not be 

offset in the amount of $4,000.00 for fees previously awarded under EAJA because the 

Department of the Treasury applied the entire amount of the EAJA award to pay down plaintiff’s 

federal debt.

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.

Case 2:13-cv-02127-CKD Document 23 Filed 12/10/15 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 23.8 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 $250.22 is also reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned will 

award the amount of attorney fees requested. Because plaintiff’s counsel has received no part of 

the fees previously awarded under EAJA, no offset will be made. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s counsel is awarded $5,955.00 in 

attorney fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 406(b). No offset shall be made for the fees previously 

awarded under EAJA.

Dated: December 10, 2015

4 ross.ss.406.fee

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:13-cv-02127-CKD Document 23 Filed 12/10/15 Page 2 of 2