Opinion
5:21-cv-53-GKS-PRL
03-30-2022
SUSAN HURLEY, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER
PHILIP R. LAMMENS, United States Magistrate Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff's Consent Petition for Attorney's Fees. (Doc. 32). Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), Plaintiff requests an award of fees in the amount of $8,544.27 and paralegal fees in the amount of $24.00. The attached schedules of hours confirm the attorney hours. (Doc. 32-1). Plaintiff represents that the Commissioner has no objection to her petition.
Plaintiff asserts that she is the prevailing party in this litigation, that the Commissioner's position in the underlying action was not substantially justified and that her net worth at the time proceeding was filed was less than two million dollars. On December 30, 2021, the Court entered an Order reversing and remanding this cause back to the Commissioner for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. 30). On January 3, 2022, the Clerk entered Judgment. On March 23, 2022, Plaintiff filed her petition for attorney's fees. (Doc. 32).
Under the EAJA, a claimant is eligible for an attorney fee award where: (1) the claimant is a prevailing party in a non-tort suit involving the United States; (2) the Government's position was not substantially justified; (3) the claimant filed a timely application for attorney's fees; (4) the claimant had a net worth of less than $2 million at the time the complaint was filed; and (5) there are no special circumstances which would make the award of fees unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
Plaintiff attached a copy of the fee agreement (Doc. 32-2), which includes Plaintiffs assignment of EAJA fees to her counsel. In light of the assignment, Plaintiff requests (and Defendant agrees) that the payment should be made payable to Plaintiff and delivered to Plaintiffs counsel unless Plaintiff owes a federal debt. If the U.S. Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, the government will accept Plaintiffs assignment of EAJA fees and pay fees directly to Plaintiffs counsel.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act (28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)), Plaintiffs petition for attorney's fees (Doc. 32) is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff is awarded attorney's fees in the amount of $8,568.27. Payment is authorized to Plaintiffs counsel if the Commissioner determines Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the government.
DONE and ORDERED .