Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-1_04-cv-00285/USCOURTS-almd-1_04-cv-00285-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jo Anne B. Barnhart
Defendant
Regina Johnson
Plaintiff

Document Text:

The Commissioner “has no objection to Plaintiff’s request for attorney fees and expenses 1

under the EAJA”and “requests that the Court’s order reflect that EAJA fees and expenses should

be made payable to Micki Beth Stiller.” The Commissioner “agrees Plaintiff should be compensated

for the filing fee of $150.00" and properly notes that such is not an expense but rather a cost payable

from the Judgment Fund administered by the United States Treasury and not the Social Security

Administration. (Defendant’s Response , Doc. 22, filed Oct. 31, 2005). 

Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 21.3 hours of services rendered between 2

(continued...)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

REGINA JOHNSON, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) Civil Action No. 1:04-CV-00285-B

) WO

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, )

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, )

)

Defendant. )

ORDER ON MOTION

On July 26, 2005, 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. 18 and 19). Submitted now is the Plaintiff’s uncontested1

Application for Attorney Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) filed on October

14, 2005 (Doc. 20).

Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C.§2412, Plaintiff seeks a total

award of $3,502.46 as itemized as follows: $ 3,326.00 for attorney’s fees to counsel of

record, Micki Beth Stiller, at an hourly rate of $156.15; $26.46 as expenses for postage and 2

Case 1:04-cv-00285-DRB Document 23 Filed 11/02/05 Page 1 of 3
(...continued) 2

February 8, 2004 and October 13, 2005. 

photocopying; and $150.00 as costs for filing fees. The court finds that Plaintiff’s

application is timely filed and that he is a “prevailing party” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C.

§2412(d)(1)(A), in that pursuant to the Order and Judgment filed July 26, 2005 the court

remanded this case for further consideration pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g).

Plaintiff has documented increases in the consumer price index which authorize an increase

from the $125 hourly fee specified in the EAJA to the requested hourly rate as an adjustment

for inflation. Plaintiff’s requested hourly rate is reasonable as are the hours expended for

legal representation. Plaintiff’s claim for expenses and costs is also reasonable.

Accordingly, it is the ORDER, JUDGMENT, and DECREE of this court that the

Plaintiff’s Application for Attorney Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) (Doc.

20) is GRANTED as follows:

1. Plaintiff’s application for an award of attorney’s fees and expenses be

GRANTED in the total amount of $3,352.46, payable to Plaintiff’s counsel,

Micki Beth Stiller.

2. Plaintiff’s application for reimbursement of the filing fee be GRANTED,

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2412(a)(1) and 28 U.S.C. §1920(1), in the total amount

of $150.00 as a judgment for costs, payable to Plaintiff’s counsel, Micki Beth

Stiller.

Case 1:04-cv-00285-DRB Document 23 Filed 11/02/05 Page 2 of 3
DONE this 2 day of November, 2005. nd

/s/ Delores R. Boyd 

DELORES R. BOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-00285-DRB Document 23 Filed 11/02/05 Page 3 of 3