Opinion
C/A No. 1:17-cv-00317-TMC
01-25-2018
LEONWOOD PINER, Plaintiff, v. 02893 NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner Of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER
On January 15, 2018, Plaintiff Leonwood Piner filed a Motion for Attorney's Fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), on the bases that he was the prevailing party and that the Commissioner's decision was not supported by substantial evidence. (ECF No. 18). On January 25, 2018, the Commissioner responded stating that she does not object to an award of attorney's fees of $2,671.88, and payment of expenses in the amount of twenty dollars and one cent ($20.01) pursuant to the EAJA. (ECF No. 20).
Under the EAJA, a court shall award attorney's fees to a prevailing party in certain civil actions against the United States unless it finds that the government's position was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). The district courts have discretion to determine a reasonable fee award and whether that award should be made in excess of the statutory cap. Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552 (1988); May v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 176, 177 (4th Cir. 1991). The district courts also have broad discretion to set the attorney fee amount. In determining the fee award, "[e]xorbitant, unfounded, or procedurally defective fee applications . . . are matters that the district court can recognize and discount." Hyatt v. North Carolina Dep't of Human Res., 315 F.3d 239, 254 (4th Cir. 2002) (citing Comm'r v. Jean, 496 U.S. 154, 163 (1990)). Additionally, the court should not only consider the "position taken by the United States in the civil action," but also the "action or failure to act by the agency upon which the civil action is based." 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(D), as amended by P.L. 99-80, § 2(c)(2)(B).
A party who wins a remand pursuant to sentence four of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), is a prevailing party for EAJA purposes. See Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 300-302 (1993). The remand in this case was made pursuant to sentence four. --------
The Plaintiff has asked for the payment of attorney's fees in the amount of $2,671.88, and $20.01 for expenses. (ECF No. 18). The Commissioner does not object to the payment or amount of these fees and expenses. (ECF No. 20). Despite there being no objection, the court is obligated under the EAJA to determine if the fee is proper. See Design & Prod., Inc. v. United States, 21 Cl. Ct. 145, 152 (1990) (holding that under the EAJA, "it is the court's responsibility to independently assess the appropriateness and measure of attorney's fees to be awarded in a particular case, whether or not an amount is offered as representing the agreement of the parties in the form of a proposed stipulation"). Applying the above standard to the facts of this case, the court concludes that the Commissioner's position was not substantially justified. Furthermore, after a thorough review of the record, the court finds that the stipulated fee request is appropriate. Accordingly, the court GRANTS the Motion for Attorney's Fees (ECF No. 18) and orders that the Plaintiff be awarded $2,671.88 in attorney's fees and $20.01 in expenses, for a total award of $2,691.89.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Timothy M. Cain
United States District Judge January 25, 2018
Anderson, South Carolina