Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_05-cv-00251/USCOURTS-ared-3_05-cv-00251-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Rosa Pickett
Plaintiff
Social Security Administration
Defendant

Document Text:

1 Michael 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

ROSA PICKETT PLAINTIFF

vs. Civil Case No. 3:05CV00251 HLJ

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,

Commissioner, Social

Security Administration1 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(d). She seeks compensation for 0.55 hours of work performed by

her attorney before the District Court in 2005 at the rate of

$156.00 per hour, 10.25 hour of work performed by her attorney in

2006 at the rate of $162.00 per hour and 4.20 hours of work by a

paralegal at the rate of $75.00 per hour. She also seeks

reimbursement for expenses in the amount of $13.95. The

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

rates submitted by Plaintiff or the requested 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

Case 3:05-cv-00251-HLJ Document 19 Filed 07/03/07 Page 1 of 2
2

Social Security Administration (Plaintiff’s Exhibit A) to calculate

attorneys’ fees on an annualized basis, using the Consumer Price

Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). 

Normally 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 $2061.30 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 $2075.25, pursuant to EAJA. The

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

attorney this amount.

SO ORDERED this 3rd day of July, 2007.

 

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:05-cv-00251-HLJ Document 19 Filed 07/03/07 Page 2 of 2