Source: http://tn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190326_0000638.ETN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-09-15 10:42:13
Document Index: 685191014

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 636', '§ 406', '§ 2412', '§ 406', '§ 406', 'art, 535']

BRADLEY JOSEPH KING, Plaintiff,
This matter is before the United States Magistrate Judge under the standing orders of the Court and 28 U.S.C. § 636 for a report and recommendation with respect to the Motion filed by Plaintiff's counsel for an award of $6, 426.00 in attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) for work performed on behalf of Plaintiff in pursuit of Social Security benefits [Doc. 26]. Defendant has not responded to the motion.
On October 22, 2014, Plaintiff filed a Complaint [Doc. 1], seeking review of the Commissioner's final decision denying the Plaintiff's application for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income benefits. After the parties filed competing dispositive motions [Docs. 13 & 16], the District Court entered an Order [Doc. 18] adopting this Court's August 31, 2015 Report and Recommendations [Doc. 17], granting summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff on March 6, 2017, remanding the matter to the Commissioner for further proceedings [Doc. 19].
On October 9, 2015, Plaintiff moved for an award of attorney's fees of $3, 185.00 pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) [Doc. 20]. Thereafter, the parties stipulated to the entry of an order [Doc. 23] awarding Plaintiff $2, 400.00 in fees under the EAJA and the Court entered an Order granting Plaintiff attorney's fees in the stipulated amount [Doc. 25]. The motion now before the Court seeks an additional award of attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) [Doc. 26].
Plaintiff's counsel requests approval to charge attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) based on a contingency fee agreement with Plaintiff [Docs. 27, 27-1 to -6]. Plaintiff, along with his minor child, was awarded total past-due benefits in an amount counsel does not specify. However, counsel advises that $16, 984.50, representing twenty-five percent of the past-due benefits award for which Plaintiff contracted to pay in attorney's fees, was withheld for attorney's fees. Based on the percentage withheld, Plaintiff and his minor child were awarded $67, 938.00 in past due benefits. Of the amount withhold, counsel has already been awarded $10, 558.50 by the Regional Chief Judge for his administrative services. He now requests the remaining $6, 426.00[1] of the amount withheld for attorney's fees. Counsel submits this amount is reasonable pursuant to Gisbrecht v. Barhhart, 535 U.S. 789 (2002).
The Commissioner has not responded to the fee motion.