Opinion
19-cvB778-wmc
04-13-2022
ADAM PHILLIPS, Plaintiff, v. KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER
WILLIAM M. CONLEY DISTRICT JUDGE
On June 12, 2020, the court issued an order and judgment remanding this case to the commissioner for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) pursuant to stipulation of the parties. Now before the court is plaintiff Cameron Kaiser's attorney's petition for fees pursuant to § 406(b)(1) in the amount of $2, 571.50. (Dkt. #26.) Defendant does not object to this motion. (Dkt. #30.)
Fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406
As part of its judgment, a court may allow “a reasonable fee . . . not in excess of 25 percent of the . . . past-due benefits” awarded to the claimant. § 406(b)(1)(A). The fee is payable “out of, and not in addition to, the amount of [the] past-due benefits.” Id. Counsel asks the court to approve an attorney fee award in the amount of $2, 571.50, which represents the difference between the prior EAJA fee award and $8, 871.50, which represents the 25 percent of past due benefits withheld. Having considered the supporting materials filed by plaintiff's attorney, and hearing no objection from plaintiff or defendant, 1 the court will grant the motion. The fees requested by counsel are reasonable in light of the time he and members of his firm spent on this case and the favorable result he obtained for plaintiff while working on a contingency basis.
Of course, counsel is not allowed to recover both awards. Section 406(b) has been harmonized with the EAJA; though fee awards may be made under both the EAJA and § 406(b), a claimant's attorney must refund to the claimant the amount of the smaller fee. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 796 (2002) (explaining that “an EAJA award offsets an award under Section 406(b)”).
The court notes that counsel was previously awarded EAJA fees in the amount of $6, 300.00. (Dkt. #25.)
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that counsel's motion for attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1) in the amount of $2, 571.50 (dkt. #26) is GRANTED. 2