Opinion
3:22-cv-00112-AR
04-02-2024
ROBERT J. J., Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant.
ORDER ON ATTORNEY FEES UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)
JEFF ARMISTEAD UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Robert J. J. (last name omitted for privacy) brought this action seeking review of the Commissioner's final decision denying his application for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. On June 6, 2023, the court issued an opinion and order remanding the case for further proceedings. On remand, plaintiff received a fully favorable decision and was entitled to receive benefits beginning March 2018. Plaintiff's counsel previously was awarded $7,424.42 in fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
The parties have consented to jurisdiction by magistrate judge as permitted by 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1).
Plaintiff's counsel, John E. Haapala, Jr., now seeks approval of $15,776.75 in attorney fees, under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), which represents 25 percent of plaintiff's past-due benefits. (Pl.'s Mot. Attorney Fees, ECF No. 26.) Although the Commissioner does not dispute that counsel is entitled to an award of fees and agrees that the amount requested is reasonable, the Commissioner takes issue with the wording of plaintiff's counsel's Proposed Order attached to the motion for attorney fees.
DISCUSSION
Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), the court may allow a reasonable fee for an attorney who represented a Social Security claimant and obtained a favorable judgment, as long as the fee does not exceed 25 percent of the total past-due benefits. See Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 807 (2002); Culbertson v. Berryhill, 139 S.Ct. 517, 523 (2019) (providing that the agency withholds a pool of 25 percent of a claimant's past due benefits to pay attorney fees). When a contingency fee agreement applies, the court will look first to the agreement and conduct an independent review to assure the reasonableness of the fee requested, taking into consideration the character of the representation and results achieved. See Gisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 807-08. Although the fee agreement is the primary means for determining the fee, the court may reduce the fee for substandard representation, delay by the attorney, or because a windfall would result from the requested fee. See Crawford v. Astrue, 586 F.3d 1142, 1151 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Gisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 808).
The court has reviewed the record in this case, the motion, and the supporting materials, including the award of benefits, the fee agreement with counsel, and the recitation of counsel's hours and services. Plaintiff agreed to pay counsel fees of 25 percent of any past-due benefits awarded to him. (Pl.'s Mot. Attach. 2, ECF No. 26-2.) The amount sought by counsel, $15,776.75, is 25 percent of the total award of $63,107. (Id. Attach. 1, ECF 26-1.) The representation was not substandard and the results achieved were excellent. This court ordered a remand, after which plaintiff received a fully favorable determination of benefits. There is no evidence of delay or that a windfall will result from the requested fee. Moreover, the Commissioner has no objection to the amount of the award. Applying the standards set by Gisbrecht, the court finds that the requested fees are reasonable.
The parties dispute the wording to be used in this Order. The Commissioner contends that § 406(b)(1)(A) does not authorize an order “directing” the Commissioner to “pay” attorney fees. (Def.'s Resp. at 2-3, ECF No. 28.) The Commissioner requests that the order specify that any amount of fees awarded under § 406(b) are to be paid out of plaintiff's past-due benefits that have been withheld by the agency for that purpose. At bottom, the Commissioner appears concerned about being on the hook for attorney fees in the event of a shortfall of withheld funds. The proposed order provided by plaintiff's counsel complies with the Commissioner's request, as does the court's order below.
The Commissioner also notes that when an attorney receives fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) and § 406(b), the attorney must refund the smaller fee award to the claimant. (Def.'s Resp. at 4.) The Commissioner further requests that the court determine the reasonableness of the total § 406(b) award, not the net amount. As discussed above, the court assessed the reasonableness of the full § 406(b) fees sought. Accordingly, the Commissioner's concerns have been addressed.
CONCLUSION
Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) (ECF No. 26) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's counsel is allowed attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), in the amount of $15,776.75, to be paid out of plaintiff's past due benefits. Previously the court awarded plaintiff's counsel $7,424.42 in fees under the EAJA. When issuing the § 406(b) check for payment to plaintiff's counsel, the Commissioner is directed to subtract the amount previously awarded under the EAJA and send plaintiff's counsel, John E. Haapala, Jr., the net amount of $8,352.33, less any applicable processing fee prescribed by law. The § 406(b) check should be mailed to John E. Haapala, Jr. 401 E. 10th Avenue, Suite 240, Eugene, OR 97401.