Filed: Jun. 12, 2014
Latest Update: Jun. 12, 2014
Summary: ORDER DONALD E. O'BRIEN, District Judge. This matter is before the Court pursuant to Plaintiff's "Motion For Award Of Attorney's Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act 28 U.S.C. 2412" (Docket No. 24), requesting attorney fees in the amount of $6,002.50. The Defendant has filed, "Defendant's Response To Plaintiff's Application For Attorney Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act" (Docket No. 25), stating that the defendant and plaintiff reached a settlement for an EAJA fee p
Summary: ORDER DONALD E. O'BRIEN, District Judge. This matter is before the Court pursuant to Plaintiff's "Motion For Award Of Attorney's Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act 28 U.S.C. 2412" (Docket No. 24), requesting attorney fees in the amount of $6,002.50. The Defendant has filed, "Defendant's Response To Plaintiff's Application For Attorney Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act" (Docket No. 25), stating that the defendant and plaintiff reached a settlement for an EAJA fee pa..
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ORDER
DONALD E. O'BRIEN, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court pursuant to Plaintiff's "Motion For Award Of Attorney's Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act 28 U.S.C. §2412" (Docket No. 24), requesting attorney fees in the amount of $6,002.50. The Defendant has filed, "Defendant's Response To Plaintiff's Application For Attorney Fees Pursuant To The Equal Access To Justice Act" (Docket No. 25), stating that the defendant and plaintiff reached a settlement for an EAJA fee payment of $5,800.00. This amount shall be paid to the Plaintiff by the Social Security Administration and mailed to Plaintiff's attorney.
28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) of the EAJA provides for the award of fees and expenses if: (1) the party requesting the fees prevailed; (2) the position of the United States was not "substantially justified;" (3) the fees were incurred by the moving party in a "civil action . . . including proceedings for judicial review of agency action;" (4) the action was brought by or against the United States; (5) the court entering the ruling had "jurisdiction of that action;" (6) the party seeking fees submitted an application 30 days after final judgment, specifying the "amount sought, including an itemized statement. . . stating the actual time expended and the rate at which fees and other expenses were computed;" (7) the amount sought is reasonable under the circumstances; and (8) there are no "special circumstances" making "an award unjust." (citation omitted).
In this case, Plaintiff has satisfied each necessary element. Plaintiff prevailed in a civil action against the Commissioner of Social Security (Docket No. 22). This Court properly exercised jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3). The Commissioner was not substantially justified in that the overwhelming weight of the evidence supported the conclusion that an award of benefits was appropriate. Plaintiff's request for attorney's fees included an itemized statement of the actual time expended (Docket No. 24-3). Neither the Commissioner nor this Court consider the amount sought to be unreasonable under the circumstances.1 And, finally, this Court is unaware of any special circumstances which would render the award unjust.
Therefore, as agreed to by the parties, attorneys fees under EAJA is granted in the agreed upon amount of $5,800.00, payable to the plaintiff from the Social Security Administration, and mailed to plaintiff's attorney's address after any offset.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
