Source: http://co.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150410_0000788.DCO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-04-22 20:12:58
Document Index: 217681427

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2412', '§ 405', '§ 2412', '§ 401', '§ 2412', 'art, 475']

JAMES A. HOWARD, Plaintiff,
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S APPLICATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY'S FEES
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Plaintiff James A. Howards' Motion for an Award of Attorney's Fees ("Motion") (#25) pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412, the supporting brief, (#26), the Commissioner's Response (#27), and Mr. Howards's Reply (#28).
For purposes of determining the instant motion, the Court exercises subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
Mr. Howard asserts that, pursuant to the EAJA, he should be awarded attorney fees in the amount of $7482.09. The Commissioner objects, contending that its position in defending the Decision was substantially justified and special circumstances would make an award unjust.
Mr. Howard filed a claim for disability insurance benefits pursuant to Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-33, 1381-83c. He asserted that he had been disabled from December 1, 2002 due to major depression. After a hearing, the administrative law judge ("ALJ") denied Mr. Howard's claim in a Decision issued June 22, 2010. Mr. Howard appealed that Decision to the Appeals Council, which denied review of Mr. Howard's Social Security Disability Benefits claim and remanded his Supplemental Security Income claim for further proceedings. The ALJ held a second hearing on August 26, 2011 and denied Mr. Howard's claim in a decision issued September 10, 2011. Mr. Howard appealed that Decision to the Appeals Council, which denied review.
Subsequently, Mr. Howard appealed to this Court, challenging the second Decision on two grounds: (1) the ALJ failed to weigh the medical evidence properly; and (2) the ALJ failed to evaluate Mr. Howard's credibility properly.
On June 26, 2014, this Court reversed the Decision and remanded the case to the Commissioner for further proceedings. Specifically, this Court held that the ALJ failed to comply with the Appeals Council's directions on remand and the ALJ did not follow the correct legal standards when considering the medical evidence and Mr. Howard's credibility. In the instant Motion, Mr. Howard requests attorney fees.
The EAJA provides that "a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United States fees and other expenses... unless the court finds that the position of the United States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust." 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). Thus, to prevail under the EAJA, a party must show: (1) that it was the prevailing party; (2) the position of the United States was not substantially justified; and (3) there are no special circumstances that make an award unjust.
There is no dispute that Mr. Howard is the prevailing party. Hackett v. Barnhart, 475 F.3d 1166, 1168 (10th Cir. 2007). The only issues before the Court are whether the Commissioner's position was substantially justified and whether there are special circumstances that make an award unjust.
As to whether the Commissioner's position was substantially justified, the Commissioner bears the burden of proof. Id. at 1170. Under the EAJA, fees generally should not be awarded if the Commissioner advanced a reasonable or substantially justified litigation position. Id. (quoting United States v. Marolf, 277 F.3d 1156, 1159 (10th Cir. 2002)). The Commissioner's position is substantially justified if it has a reasonable basis in both law and ...