Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-1_04-cv-00633/USCOURTS-almd-1_04-cv-00633-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jo Anne B. Barnhart
Defendant
Thomas P. Hall
Plaintiff

Document Text:

The Commissioner “does not contest the award of attorney fees under the Equal Access 1

to Justice Act”. 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. Thus, the Commissioner “requests

that the court enter an order awarding fees of $3,669.33 and costs of $150.00.” (Defendant’s

Response , Doc. 25, filed Dec. 22, 2005). 

Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 2.55 hours of services rendered between June 2

24, 2004 and December 22, 2004. (Doc. 23).

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

THOMAS P. HALL, )

)

Plaintiff, )

) 

v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:04-cv-633-B

) [wo]

JO ANNE B. BARNHART, )

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, )

)

Defendant. ) 

ORDER ON MOTION

On September 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 uncontested Petition 1

for Attorney Fees filed with a supporting brief and other documentation on December 12,

2005 (Docs. 20, 21, 22 and 23).

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

award of $3,819.33 itemized as follows: $386.71 for attorney’s fees to counsel of record,

Georgia Ludlum, at an hourly rate of $151.65. ; $143.64 for attorney fees to counsel of 2

Case 1:04-cv-00633-DRB Document 26 Filed 12/28/05 Page 1 of 3
Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 0.9 hours of services rendered between

3

January 14, 2005 and November 18, 2005. (Doc. 23).

Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 14.7 hours of services rendered between

4

November 14, 2004 and November 16, 2004. (Doc. 22).

Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 3.7 hours of services rendered between

5

January 31, 2005 and September 27, 2005. (Doc. 22).

 Plaintiff’s fee itemization reflects a total of 2.0 hours of services rendered on December 6

6, 2005. (Doc. 22). 

2

record, Georgia Ludlum, at an hourly rate of 159.60; $2,229.26 for attorney’s fees to 3

Chantel J. Harrington, at an hourly rate of $151.65; $590.52 for attorney’s fees to Chantel 4

J. Harrington, at an hourly rate of $159.60; $319.20 for attorney’s fees to Sarah H. Bohr, 5

at an hourly rate of $159.60; and $150.00 as costs for filing fees. The court finds that 6

Plaintiff’s motion 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 September 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 costs is also reasonable. 

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

Plaintiff’s Petition for Attorney Fees (Doc. 20) is GRANTED as follows:

1. Plaintiff’s petition for an award of attorney’s fees is GRANTED in the total

amount of $3,669.33; and

Case 1:04-cv-00633-DRB Document 26 Filed 12/28/05 Page 2 of 3
3

2. Plaintiff’s petition for reimbursement of the filing fee is GRANTED in the

total amount of $150.00 as a judgment for costs.

DONE this 28 day of December, 2005. 

th

/s/ Delores R. Boyd

 DELORES R. BOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-00633-DRB Document 26 Filed 12/28/05 Page 3 of 3