Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-1_06-cv-00007/USCOURTS-almd-1_06-cv-00007-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jo Anne B. Barnhart
Defendant
Elaine McNeal
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

ELAINE MCNEAL, )

)

Plaintiff, )

) 1:06-cv-00007-DRB

vs. ) [wo]

)

JO ANNE B. BARNHART )

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, )

)

Defendant. )

ORDER ON MOTION

On July 14, 2006, this court entered a Final Judgment remanding this case to the

Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C.

§405(g). (Docs. 23 and 24). Submitted now is the Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees ,filed with

a supporting brief and schedule of hours on October 12, 2006, 2006 (Docs.25, 26, and 27).

Plaintiff Elaine McNeal (“Plaintiff”) seeks a total award of $2,427.80 for attorney’s fees to

counsel of record, Georgia H. Ludlum. Plaintiff’s Motion is timely filed, and she is a “prevailing

party” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. §2412(d)(1)(A), in that the court remanded this case for

further consideration. Plaintiff has documented inflationary increases in the consumer price index

which authorize an increase from the $125.00 hourly fee specified in the EAJA to the requested

hourly rate of $159.20. This hourly rate isreasonable as are the 15.25 hours expended for itemized

legal services between January 2, 2006 and October 12, 2006. 

The Commissioner reports her agreement with Plaintiff’s counsel “that Plaintiff should be

awarded $2, 300.00 under 28 U.S.C. §2412.” (Defendant’s Response , Doc. 29, Oct. 26, 2006).

Case 1:06-cv-00007-DRB Document 30 Filed 10/27/06 Page 1 of 2
After confirming the agreement with Plaintiff’s counsel, the court further finds that the parties

have negotiated a fee amount of $2,300.00 --less than the amount sought in the Plaintiff’s

Motion.

Accordingly, it is the

ORDER, JUDGMENT, and DECREE of this court that Plaintiff’s Motion (Doc. 25) is

is GRANTED to the extent of the agreed-upon amount, $2,300.00, for payment to Plaintiff’s

counsel.

DONE this 27 day of October, 2006. 

th

/s/ Delores R. Boyd

DELORES R. BOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00007-DRB Document 30 Filed 10/27/06 Page 2 of 2