De Castro v. Social Security Administration Commissioner, No. 2:2020cv02065 - Document 28 (W.D. Ark. 2021)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER; the Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $6,688.85 for attorney's fees pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes III on May 11, 2021. (lw)

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De Castro v. Social Security Administration Commissioner Doc. 28 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH DIVISION CHRISTOPHER DE CASTRO v. PLAINTIFF CIVIL CASE NO. 2:20-cv-2065 ANDREW M. SAUL, 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 Nos. 24, 25). The Defendant has filed a response and the matter is now ripe for resolution. (ECF No. 27). On April 21, 2021, 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 $6,688.85 representing a total of 32.95 attorney hours for work performed in 2020 and 2021 at an hourly rate of $203.00. (ECF No. 24-1). On April 26, 2021, the Defendant filed a response voicing no objections to Plaintiff’s motion. (ECF No. 27). After reviewing Plaintiff’s motion and the Administration’s response, it is the opinion of the undersigned that the Plaintiff is entitled to a fee award in this case. The record clearly shows that he is the prevailing party; the government’s decision to deny benefits was not “substantially justified;” the hourly rate requested for attorney 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. 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 Dockets.Justia.com “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, Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 430 (1983) (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). As such, the undersigned finds that the Plaintiff is entitled to an attorney’s fee award under EAJA in the amount of $6,688.85. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 596 (2010), the EAJA fee award should be made payable to Plaintiff. As a matter of practice, however, 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. Accordingly, the Plaintiff is awarded the sum of $6,688.85 for attorney’s fees pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Dated this 11th day of May, 2021. /s/ P. K. Holmes, III P. K. HOLMES, III U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE 2

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