Opinion
20-24624-CV-WILLIAMS
04-25-2024
ASHLEY HARDEMAN, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER
KATHLEEN M. WILLIAMS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
THIS MATTER is before the Court on United States Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman's Report and Recommendation (DE 28) (“Report”) on Plaintiff Ashley Hardeman's (“Plaintiff”) Motion for Authorization of an Attorney Fee Pursuant to Section 206(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (DE 26) (“Motion”). Defendant informed Plaintiff that it “neither supports nor opposes” the Motion and it did not file a response to the Motion. In the Report, Judge Goodman recommends that the Motion be granted, and that Plaintiff be awarded $4,453.13 in attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) with instructions for the agency to process a “net” fee of $2,500.00. (DE 28 at 6.) Further, Judge Goodman recommends that this sum should be paid directly to Plaintiff's counsel from past-due benefits currently being withheld by the Commissioner. (Id.) No objections were filed to the Report, and the time to object has passed.
Upon a careful review of the Report, the record, and applicable law, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
1. Judge Goodman's Report (DE 28) is AFFIRMED AND ADOPTED.
2. Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney's Fees (DE 26) is GRANTED.
3. In accordance with the Court's Order of Remand and Final Judgment (DE 21), this case remains CLOSED.
DONE AND ORDERED