Aguilar v. Social Security Administration Commissioner, No. 2:2014cv02197 - Document 20 (W.D. Ark. 2016)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 15 Motion for Attorney Fees. Plaintiff is awarded Attorney Fees in the amount of $4,169.20 pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Signed by Honorable Mark E. Ford on June 8, 2016. (hnc)

Download PDF
Aguilar v. Social Security Administration Commissioner Doc. 20 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH DIVISION JEPHTE AGUILAR v. PLAINTIFF CIVIL NO. 2:14-cv-2197-MEF CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner Social Security Administration DEFENDANT MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Pending now before this Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). ECF No. 15, 16. The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a Magistrate Judge to conduct any and all proceedings in this case, and pursuant to said authority, the Court issues this Order. On Aril 12, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs under 28 U.S.C. § 2412, the Equal Access to Justice Act (hereinafter “EAJA”), requesting $4,336.00, representing a total of 3.10 attorney hours for work performed in 2014 at an hourly rate of $ 186.00, 18.70 attorney hours in 2015 at an hourly rate of $187.00 and 3.50 paralegal hours at an hourly rate of $75.00. ECF No. 16-2. On April 12, 2016, the Defendant filed a response objecting to several of the hours for which compensation is sought. ECF No. 17. On April 13, 2016, Plaintiff filed a reply, conceding to the Defendant’s objections. ECF No, 18. It is the opinion of the undersigned that the Plaintiff is entitled to a fee award in this case, as he is the prevailing party, the government’s decision to deny benefits was not “substantially justified”, the hourly rate requested for both attorney and paralegal hours does not exceed the CPI for either year in question, and the time asserted to have been spent in the representation of the Plaintiff before the district court is reasonable. See Jackson v. Bowen, 807 F.2d 127, 128 (8th Cir. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1986) (burden is on the Commissioner to show substantial justification for the government’s denial of benefits); Johnson v. Sullivan, 919 F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1990) (the hourly rate may be increased when there is “uncontested proof of an increase in the cost of living sufficient to justify hourly attorney’s fees of more than $75.00 an hour); and, Allen v. Heckler, 588 F.Supp. 1247 (W.D.N.Y. 1984) (in determining reasonableness, court looks at time and labor required; the difficulty of questions involved; the skill required to handle the problems presented; the attorney’s experience, ability, and reputation; the benefits resulting to the client from the services; the customary fee for similar services; the contingency or certainty of compensation; the results obtained; and, the amount involved). However, we agree with the Defendant’s objections. Accordingly, Plaintiff is entitled to an attorney’s fee award under EAJA in the amount of $4,169.20. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2528 (2010), the EAJA fee award should be made payable to Plaintiff. However, as a matter of practice, an EAJA fee made payable to Plaintiff may properly be mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel. The parties are reminded that, in order to prevent double recovery by counsel for the Plaintiff, the award herein under the EAJA will be taken into account at such time as a reasonable fee is determined pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406. IV. Conclusion: Based upon the foregoing, Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $4,169.20 for attorney’s fees pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Dated this 8th day of June 2016. /s/ Mark E. Ford HONORABLE MARK E. FORD UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 2

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.