Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_05-cv-00266/USCOURTS-ared-3_05-cv-00266-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Robin Johnson
Plaintiff
Social Security Administration
Defendant

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

ROBIN JOHNSON PLAINTIFF

v. NO. 3:05cv00266 JWC

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,

Commissioner, Social 

Security Administration DEFENDANT

ORDER

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 (doc. 15). Plaintiff seeks an EAJA award

for work done at the district court level by her attorney (.55 hours in 2005 at an hourly rate

of $156.00 and 22.7 hours in 2006 at an hourly rate of $162.00) and by paralegal

assistants (4.05 hours at an hourly rate of $75.00), for a total fee award of $4,066.95.

Additionally, she seeks reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $13.95. 

Under the EAJA, a prevailing social security claimant is entitled to an award of

reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses unless the Commissioner’s position in denying

benefits was “substantially justified” or special circumstances make an award unjust. 28

U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). A claimant who wins a sentence-four remand order, such as the

one entered in this case (doc. 13, 14), is a prevailing party entitled to EAJA fees. Shalala

v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993). The Commissioner does not contest Plaintiff’s

entitlement to an award of fees and expenses under the EAJA, and he asserts that the

amount requested is reasonable (doc. 17).

The EAJA provides that attorney fees "shall not be awarded in excess of $125.00

per hour unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special

factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings involved,

justifies a higher fee." 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). See Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S.

552, 571 (1988). The increased rates requested by Plaintiff reflect an agreement between

Plaintiff’s counsel and the Office of General Counsel, Region VI, Social Security

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Administration, to calculate attorney’s fees on an annualized basis using the mid-year

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) (doc. 16, at 13-14). Plaintiff

submits the applicable CPI-U figures to support the increased rates (doc. 16, at 23). 

Paralegals are to be compensated at the market rate. Missouri v. Jenkins, 491 U.S.

274, 289 (1989). Counsel submits affidavits to establish $75.00 an hour as the prevailing

market rate for paralegal work (doc. 16, at 20-22). 

No objection is made to the number of attorney or paralegal hours requested or to

the amount of expenses, and counsel’s itemization establishes that they were reasonably

expended in representation of Plaintiff (doc. 16, at 24-26). 

Therefore, the Court will approve the total requested fees for attorney work (.55

hours at $156.00 and 22.7 hours at $162.00) and paralegal work (4.05 hours at $75.00),

for a fee award of $4,066.95. The Court also will approve the requested expenses of

$13.95.

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED 

(1) That Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees and expenses pursuant to the Equal

Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (doc. 15) is granted; 

(2) That Plaintiff's attorney is entitled to an attorney's fee in the amount of

$4,066.95, together with expenses of $13.95, for a total of $4,080.90, all pursuant to the

EAJA; and

(3) That the Commissioner is directed to certify and pay to Anthony Bartels,

attorney for Plaintiff, the amount awarded pursuant to the EAJA.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 11th day of April, 2008.

 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:05-cv-00266-JWC Document 18 Filed 04/11/08 Page 2 of 2