Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_06-cv-00162/USCOURTS-ared-3_06-cv-00162-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Bryan Doss
Plaintiff
Social Security Administration
Defendant

Document Text:

1Michael J. Astrue was sworn in as the Commissioner of Social

Security on February 12, 2007. He is therefore substituted for Jo

Anne B. Barnhart pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d)(1).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

BRYAN DOSS PLAINTIFF

vs. Civil Case No. 3:06CV00162 HLJ

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,

Commissioner, Social

Security Administration1 DEFENDANT

PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

INSTRUCTIONS

The following recommended disposition has been sent to United

States District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright. Any party may

serve and file written objections to this recommendation.

Objections should be specific and should include the factual or

legal basis for the objection. If the objection is to a factual

finding, specifically identify that finding and the evidence that

supports your objection. An original and one copy of your

objections must be received in the office of the United States

District Court Clerk no later than eleven (11) days from the date

of the findings and recommendations. The copy will be furnished to

the opposing party. Failure to file timely objections may result

in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact.

If you are objecting to the recommendation and also desire to

submit new, different, or additional evidence, and to have a hearing

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for this purpose before the District Judge, you must, at the same

time that you file your written objections, include the following:

1. Why the record made before the Magistrate Judge is

inadequate.

2. Why the evidence proffered at the hearing before the

District Judge (if such a hearing is granted) was

not offered at the hearing before the Magistrate

Judge. 

3. The detail of any testimony desired to be introduced

at the hearing before the District Judge in the form

of an offer of proof, and a copy, or the original,

of any documentary or other non-testimonial evidence

desired to be introduced at the hearing before the

District Judge.

From this submission, the District Judge will determine the

necessity for an additional evidentiary hearing, either before the

Magistrate Judge or before the District Judge.

Mail your objections and “Statement of Necessity” to:

Clerk, United States District Court

Eastern District of Arkansas

600 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 402

Little Rock, AR 72201-3325

DISPOSITION

Plaintiff has filed a motion for attorney’s fees and expenses

pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. §

2412(d). He seeks compensation for 0.80 hours of work performed by

his attorney before the district court in 2006 at a rate of $162.00

per hour, 8.35 hours in 2007 at a rate of $167.00 per hour and 4.90

hours of work by a paralegal at the rate of $75.00 per hour. He

also seeks reimbursement for expenses in the amount of $13.95. The

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Commissioner does not object to the number of hours, the hourly

rates requested by Plaintiff or the submitted expenses.

The maximum statutory rate of compensation for work performed by

an attorney set forth in § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii) is $125.00. The increased

rates requested by Plaintiff reflect an agreement between Plaintiff’s

counsel and the Office of the General Counsel of the Social Security

Administration (Plaintiff’s Exhibit A) to calculate attorney’s fees on

an annualized basis, using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban

Consumers (CPI-U). 

Ordinarily, the court awards $65.00 per hour for work performed

by a paralegal. Plaintiff argues the hourly fee for a paralegal should

be $75.00 per hour based on the prevailing market rate, and has

submitted supporting affidavits. The Secretary does not object to this

request and the court presumes this increase is also part of the

agreement between Plaintiff’s counsel and the Office of the General

Counsel. Accordingly, the court approves an award of fees in the

amount of $1891.55 and expenses in the amount of $13.95. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff is awarded attorney’s fees

and expenses in the amount of $1905.50, pursuant to EAJA. The

Commissioner is directed to certify said award and pay Plaintiff’s

attorney this amount.

SO ORDERED this 11th day of January, 2008.

 

United States Magistrate Judge

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