Opinion
No. 4:11CV1632 TIA
06-25-2013
SHERROD LEE, Plaintiff, v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff's Application for Award of Attorney's Fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (Doc. No. 23). The parties consented to the jurisdiction of undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
On March 13, 2013, the undersigned reversed the Commissioner's decision and remanded Plaintiff's case to the Commissioner for further proceedings. Plaintiff now seeks attorney's fees in the amount of $1,420.77, which represents 7.8 hours of attorney work from Jeffrey J. Bunten at the rate of $182.15 per hour. Defendant filed a response to Plaintiff's motion, stating that she has no objection to an award of EAJA fees of $1,420.77 to be paid by the Social Security Administration.
In EAJA actions, the district court has the authority to award reasonable and necessary expenses associated with adjudicating a claim for social security benefits. Kelly v. Bowen, 862 F.2d 1333, 1335 (8th Cir. 1988). The Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to EAJA fees in the amount of $1,420.77, payable to the Plaintiff as the prevailing party. Astrue v. Ratliff, __ U.S. __, 130 S. Ct. 2521, 2527 (2010) (holding that EAJA fees are payable to the prevailing party and may be subject to offset to satisfy any pre-existing debt owed to the United States). An appropriate Judgment will accompany this Memorandum and Order.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Application for Award of Attorney's Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. No. 23) is GRANTED in the amount of $1,420.77.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that said award shall be made payable to the Plaintiff.
Terry I. Adelman
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE