Opinion
6:23-cv-1833-NPM
06-03-2024
Alena Donewald Wingerter, Plaintiff, v. Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING FEES
NICHOLAS P. MIZELL UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Before the court is plaintiff Alena Donewald Wingerter's unopposed motion for attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). (Doc. 26). On February 26, 2024, the court granted an unopposed motion to remand and, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), reversed the decision of the Commissioner and remanded the case. (Doc. 24). Final judgment was entered on the same day. (Doc. 25). Now, Wingerter requests an award of $3,822.44 in attorney's fees and $402 in costs. (Doc. 26).
Satisfaction of five conditions warrants an EAJA award: (1) plaintiff must file a timely application for attorney's fees; (2) plaintiff's net worth must have been less than $2 million dollars at the time the complaint was filed; (3) plaintiff must be the prevailing party in a non-tort suit involving the United States; (4) the position of the United States must not have been substantially justified; and (5) there must be no special circumstances that would make the award unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d); Comm'r, I.N.S. v. Jean, 496 U.S. 154, 158 (1990). Upon consideration and with no opposition by the Commissioner on eligibility grounds, all conditions of EAJA have been met.
EAJA fees are determined under the “lodestar” method by determining the number of hours reasonably expended on the matter multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate. See Norman v. Housing Auth. of City of Montgomery, 836 F.2d 1292, 1299 (11th Cir. 1988); Jean v. Nelson, 863 F.2d 759, 773 (11th Cir. 1988). The product of the lodestar carries a strong presumption that it is a reasonable fee. City of Burlington v. Daque, 505 U.S. 557, 562 (1992).
EAJA fees are “based upon prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of services furnished,” not to exceed $125 per hour unless the court determines an increase in the cost of living or a special factor justifies a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A). The court first determines the prevailing market rate; then, if the prevailing rate exceeds $125.00, the court determines whether to adjust the hourly rate. Meyer v. Sullivan, 958 F.2d 1029, 1033-34 (11th Cir. 1992). The prevailing market rates must be determined according to rates customarily charged for similarly complex litigation and are not limited to rates specifically for social security cases. Watford v. Heckler, 765 F.2d 1562, 1568 (11th Cir. 1985).
Wingerter's attorneys request $244.62 an hour for 14.2 hours of work in 2023, and $249.16 an hour for 1.4 hours of work in 2024. (Doc. 26 at 2, 6, 11). This reflects a reasonable amount of hours at a reasonable hourly rate. Wingerter also seeks $402 in costs for the case-filing fee. (Doc. 17 at 1; Doc. 17-1 at 18). Court costs, such as filing fees, are compensable under EAJA. See Tocco v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 8:21-cv-399-TPB-SPF, 2022 WL 16947863, *2 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 14, 2022), report and recommendation adopted, 2022 WL 16954494 (Nov. 15, 2022).
Accordingly, the unopposed motion for EAJA fees (Doc. 26) is GRANTED, and the clerk is directed to amend the judgment to include an award to Wingerter of $3,822.44 in attorney's fees and $402 in costs.
SO ORDERED.