Source: http://nm.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190313_0000545.DNM.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-03-28 18:54:29
Document Index: 154855126

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 406', '§ 406', '§ 3716', '§ 406', '§ 406', '§ 406']

STACY LORRAINE BAKER,, Plaintiff,
ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR ATTORNEY FEE
HONORABLE KEVIN R. SWEAZEA, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff's Unopposed Motion for Order Authorizing Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(B) and Supporting Memorandum (“Motion”) (Doc. 33), filed February 4, 2019. Plaintiff's attorney, Michael Armstrong (“Plaintiff's Counsel”), moves the Court for an order authorizing attorney fees in the amount of $7, 335.00 for legal services rendered before this Court. (Doc. 33 at 1). Defendant states she has no objection to Plaintiff's Motion. Having reviewed the parties' filings, the relevant law, and otherwise being fully advised in the premises, the Court finds that Plaintiff's Motion is well-taken and that it shall be GRANTED.
Plaintiff instituted an action in this Court on August 8, 2016, seeking judicial review of Defendant's denial of her application for Social Security disability benefits. (Doc. 1). On July 25, 2017, this Court granted Plaintiff's request for relief, and remanded the case to the Commissioner for further proceedings. (Doc. 29). Plaintiff subsequently was awarded attorney fees in the amount of $7, 500.00 pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). (Doc. 32).
Upon remand, Defendant determined Plaintiff to be disabled, entered a fully favorable decision, and awarded Plaintiff past-due benefits. (Doc. 33-2, Exhibit A). Defendant advised Plaintiff on November 24, 2018, that $13, 335.00 was being withheld from Plaintiff's total benefit amount pending an award of attorney fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(B). (Doc. 33-2, p. 19). Plaintiff's Counsel requests that the Court authorize payment of $7, 335.00 as attorney fees for legal services provided, which is well within 25 percent of total back benefits. Plaintiff will receive, as refund, the EAJA fee previously awarded by this Court in the amount of $7, 500.00. However, this amount was subject to an offset under the Treasury Offset Program (31 U.S.C. § 3716(c)(3)(B) (2006))[1], and, consequently, $4, 069.95 in EAJA fees was received. (Exhibit F, Dept. of Treasury Offset Notice).
Although § 406(b) does not prohibit contingency fee agreements, it renders them unenforceable to the extent that they provide for fees exceeding 25 percent of the past- due benefits. Gisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 807. Section 406(b) also requires the court to act as “an independent check” to ensure that fees are reasonable even if they are less than 25 percent of past-due benefits, because there is no presumption that 25 percent is reasonable. Id. at 807, n.17. Counsel has the burden of demonstrating the reasonableness of the fees. Id. at 807.
In this case, the Court finds that Plaintiff's Counsel's representation of Plaintiff was more than adequate. Counsel obtained a fully favorable decision for Plaintiff, and did not delay the proceedings before this Court in any way. The instant motion was filed within one month of Plaintiff receiving notice that she was entitled to past-due benefits. (Doc. 33-2, Ex. B). The Court finds this to be a reasonable amount of time.
Moreover, the requested fee is not disproportionately large in comparison to the amount of time spent on the case, given Plaintiff's Counsel's experience working on Social Security cases. (Doc. 33-1 Affidavit). Plaintiff's Counsel documented 42.01 total attorney hours in representing Plaintiff before this Court. Id. Awarding counsel the requested $7, 335.00 would result in an hourly fee of $174.60 for attorney work performed before this Court. Considering Plaintiff's Counsel's experience and reputation in Social Security representation, and the fact that this fee award is within the range of other fee awards authorized in this District under § 406(b), the Court finds that the fee requested is reasonable. See, e.g., Salazar v. Berryhill, 14-283 KRS (Doc. 30) (awarding $19, 442.25 for 27.42 hours, or $709.05 per hour); Bigsby v. Colvin, Civ. 12- 1207 CG (Doc. 31) (awarding $21, 839.00 for 37.33 hours, or $585.03 per hour); Gallegos v. Colvin, Civ. 12-321 SMV (Doc. 32) (awarding $10, 000.00 for 16.2 hours, or $617.28 per hour); Montes v. Barnhart, Civ. 01-578 BB/KBM (Docs. 19, 22) (awarding $10, 000 for 14.25 hours, or $701.75 per hour). In addition, the Court notes that Defendant does not oppose this Motion, and it is the duty of the Court to determine whether the fees are reasonable. (Doc. 28).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiffs Unopposed Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1)(A) with Supporting Memorandum, (Doc. 33), be GRANTED. Plaintiffs Counsel is awarded $7, 335.00 for legal services rendered before this Court.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs Counsel shall refund to Plaintiff $4, 069.95, the amount awarded under EAJA which is not subject to offset under the Treasury ...