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Swain v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, CIV-17-64-SPS. (2018)

Court: District Court, E.D. Oklahoma Number: infdco20180720c46 Visitors: 13
Filed: Jul. 19, 2018
Latest Update: Jul. 19, 2018
Summary: OPINION AND ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES TO THE PLAINTIFF UNDER THE EAJA STEVEN P. SHREDER , Magistrate Judge . Plaintiff Shannon N. Swain was the prevailing party in this action under the Social Security Act. Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney's fees in the amount of $7,072.30, pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d). The Commissioner has not responded to the Plaintiff's motion, and the time for response has expired. Accordingly, the Court finds that the Commis
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OPINION AND ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES TO THE PLAINTIFF UNDER THE EAJA

Plaintiff Shannon N. Swain was the prevailing party in this action under the Social Security Act. Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney's fees in the amount of $7,072.30, pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). The Commissioner has not responded to the Plaintiff's motion, and the time for response has expired. Accordingly, the Court finds that the Commissioner has no objection to the fee award.

Upon review of the record herein, the Court finds that said amount is reasonable and that the Commissioner should be ordered to pay it to the Plaintiff as the prevailing party herein. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) ("Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United States fees and other expenses, in addition to any costs awarded pursuant to subsection (a), incurred by that party in any civil action (other than cases sounding in tort)[.]"); see also Manning v. Astrue, 510 F.3d 1246, 1251 (10th Cir. 2007) ("The EAJA therefore permits attorney's fees reimbursement to financially eligible prevailing parties, who make a proper application, and not to their attorneys.").

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act [Docket No. 22] is hereby granted and that the Government is hereby ordered to pay the above-referenced amount to the Plaintiff as the prevailing party herein. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if the Plaintiff's attorney is subsequently awarded any fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1), said attorney shall refund the smaller amount of such fees to the Plaintiff pursuant to Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986).

Source:  Leagle

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