Opinion
Case No.: 3:14-cv-270
10-16-2015
DIANA EARLY, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
(Consent Case)
ORDER AND ENTRY: (1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY FEES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT ("EAJA") (DOC. 18); AND (2) AWARDING EAJA FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,480.40
This case is before the Court on Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), requesting attorney's fees in the amount of $3,480.40. Doc. 18. The Commissioner did not file a response, and the time for doing so has expired. The undersigned has carefully considered Plaintiff's unopposed motion and the attachments thereto, and the motion for attorney's fees is now ripe for decision.
EAJA provides for an award of attorney's fees to a party who prevails in a civil action against the United States "when the position taken by the Government is not substantially justified and no special circumstances exist warranting a denial of fees." Bryant v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 578 F.3d 443, 445 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A)). A party who prevails and obtains a Sentence Four remand is a prevailing party for EAJA purposes. See Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 301-02 (1993). EAJA fees are payable to the litigant. Astrue v. Ratliff, 586 U.S. 586, 589 (2010).
The Court granted the parties' joint motion to remand and remanded this case to the Commissioner under the Fourth Sentence of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further proceedings. Doc. 16. Accordingly, Plaintiff is the prevailing party in this case for EAJA purposes and, therefore, is entitled to an award of attorney's fees under EAJA. See Shalala, 509 U.S. at 301-02. Plaintiff's counsel advises the Court that he worked 18.5 hours on this case. Doc. 18-1 at PageID 1005. At the requested amount of $3,480.40, this calculates as $188.13 per hour -- an hourly rate that has not been challenged by the Commissioner. Having reviewed the time sheet entries submitted by Plaintiff's counsel and considering the nature of the work counsel performed in this case, the Court finds both the hourly fee and the time expended reasonable. Accordingly, Plaintiff is entitled to an EAJA fees award in the amount of $3,480.40.
Based upon the foregoing: (1) Plaintiff's motion for an EAJA fee award (doc. 18) is GRANTED; (2) Plaintiff is AWARDED the sum of $3,480.40 in EAJA fees; and (3) as no further matters remain pending for review, this case remains TERMINATED upon the Court's docket.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: October 16, 2015
s/ Michael J . Newman
Michael J. Newman
United States Magistrate Judge