Source: http://oh.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190712_0002345.SOH.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-10-16 22:59:43
Document Index: 53817292

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

FindACase™ | Dowell v. Commissioner of Social Security
Dowell v. Commissioner of Social Security
BRUCE DOWELL, Plaintiff,
ORDER AND ENTRY: (1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL'S MOTION FOR AN ATTORNEY'S FEE AWARD UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) (DOC. 17); (2) AWARDING PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL $10, 329.00 IN FEES; AND (3) DIRECTING PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL TO REFUND TO PLAINTIFF, WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS, THE EAJA FEE PREVIOUSLY AWARDED TO COUNSEL.
On February 2, 2018, the Court reversed the Commissioner's non-disability finding and remanded this case to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings. Doc. 13. On remand, Plaintiff received an award of benefits under the Social Security Act. See doc. 17 at PageID 1127-32. Thereafter, Plaintiff's counsel sought, and was awarded in this Court, attorney's fees in the amount of $4, 500.00 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). Docs. 15, 16. Plaintiff's counsel now moves for an award of attorney's fees in the amount of $10, 329.00 under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).[1] Doc. 17. The Commissioner does not oppose Plaintiff's motion. PageID 1119.
In Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) and/or Disability Insurance Benefit (“DIB”) cases, the Court is authorized to award attorney's fees following the successful prosecution of a Social Security disability appeal. See 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1). However, such fees may not exceed 25% of the past-due benefits which the claimant receives as a result of the appeal. Id. Furthermore, the attorney must show, and the Court must affirmatively find, that a contingency fee sought, even one within the 25% cap, is reasonable for the services rendered. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 807 (2002).
Plaintiff's counsel represents working a total of 25.5 hours before this Court. Doc. 17 at PageID 1123. Counsel's requested fee of $10, 329.00, divided by the 25.5 hours spent working on the case, results, as noted, in a hypothetical hourly rate of $405.06, an hourly rate that is -- based upon the material submitted in support of Plaintiff's motion -- reasonable in light of the skill and experience of counsel.
Based upon the foregoing: (1) Plaintiff's motion for a § 406(b) fee award (doc. 17) is GRANTED; (2) Plaintiff's counsel is AWARDED the requested sum of $10, 329.00 in attorney's fees; (3) Plaintiff's counsel are ORDERED to reimburse to Plaintiff, within FOURTEEN (14) DAYS, the EAJA fee previously awarded to counsel; and (4) as no further matters remain pending for review, this case remains TERMINATED upon the Court's docket.
[1] 42 U.S.C. &sect; 406(b) permits an award of attorney&#39;s fees for successful Disability Insurance Benefits (&ldquo;DIB&rdquo;) claims under Title II of the Social Security Act. Supplemental Security Income (&ldquo;SSI&rdquo;) benefits are awardable pursuant to Title XVI of the Social Security Act, which incorporates 42 U.S.C. &sect; 406(b) by reference, and likewise permits the award of attorney&#39;s fees for successful SSI claims. See 42 U.S.C. &sect; 1383(d)(2); Napier v. Comm&#39;r of Soc. Sec., 190 Fed.Appx. 458, ...