Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140502_0000519.ENC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-11-18 21:43:42
Document Index: 6101167

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 406', '§ 2412', '§ 406', '§ 406', '§ 406', '§ 406', '§ 406']

JUANITA TAYLOR, Plaintiff,
This matter comes before the court on the motion for attorney's fees filed by plaintiff's counsel, Charlotte W. Hall, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1). Defendant did not respond to the motion. In this posture the matter is ripe for ruling.
In the underlying litigation, plaintiff challenged defendant's final decision denying her application for disability benefits. Plaintiff filed a complaint on July 10, 2010, and defendant answered. Plaintiff filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings accompanied by a memorandum of law in support thereof. Defendant filed a cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings. Upon review of the motions, the court remanded the case to the defendant for further proceedings. On September 21, 2011, the court awarded plaintiff $4, 500.00 in attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
On April 5, 2014, defendant issued a favorable decision approving plaintiff's application for disability benefits. On April 8, 2014, plaintiff's counsel filed her motion for attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), seeking to recover, as an attorney fee, less than 25 percent of the total benefits awarded, or $15, 005.25. In support of her motion for attorney's fees, counsel attaches the benefits award, and notes that defendant's counsel indicated to her that the fee was reasonable and defendant will not be opposing the motion for fees. Defendant has not responded to the motion for attorney's fees.
Section 406(b) provides that "[w]henever a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant... who was represented before the court by an attorney, the court may determine and allow as part of its judgment a reasonable fee for such representation, not in excess of 25 % of the total of the past-due benefits to which the claimant is entitled by reason of such judgment." 42 U.S.C.A. § 406(b)(1)(A). The Supreme Court has held that "§ 406(b) does not displace contingent-fee agreements as the primary means by which fees are set for successfully representing Social Security benefits claimants in court. Rather, § 406(b) calls for court review of such arrangements as an independent check, to assure that they yield reasonable results in a particular case." Gisbrecht v. Barnhart , 535 U.S. 789, 807 (2002).
In this case, the court finds the fee reasonable based on consideration of all these factors. The fee is in line with the contingency-fee character of the representation and the results achieved, where counsel achieved a successful remand resulting in an award of benefits for plaintiff. Counsel did not unduly delay during the pendency of the case in court. The record evidences significant effort by counsel through pleadings which were not boilerplate, and through arguments which involved both real issues of material fact and required legal research. In addition, counsel evidences efficient handling of this case through experience in representing clients in other social security cases.
In sum, the court finds reasonable the $15, 005.25 fees requested in this case. Accordingly, plaintiff's counsel will be awarded fees in this amount where they fall under the statutory maximum of 25 % of the total benefits awarded, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). Where counsel was awarded prior EAJA fees, counsel will be required to "refund[] to the claimant the amount of the smaller fee." Gisbrecht , 535 U.S. at 807.
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's counsel's motion for approval of attorney's fees is ALLOWED in the full amount requested of $15, 005.25. Defendant shall release to plaintiff's counsel the sum of $15, 005.25 as attorney's fees for services rendered before this court. Counsel ...