Davis v. Commissioner of Social Security

• Court: District Court, W.D. New York
• Decided: July 21, 2022
• Docket: 6:20-cv-06830
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT W ESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

DONNA D.,

Plaintiff,

v. DECISION AND ORDER 20-CV-6830S COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

Plaintiff Donna D.1 is a prevailing party in this social security benefits action. Presently before this Court is Plaintiff=s counsel=s timely2 Motion for Attorney Fees under 42 U.S.C. ' 406 (b)(1)(A). (Docket No. 22.) Defendant does not oppose the motion. (Docket No. 23.) Forty-two U.S.C. ' 406 (b)(1)(A) provides as follows: Whenever a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant under this subchapter who was represented before the court by an attorney, the court may determine and allow as part of its judgment a reasonable fee for such representation, not in excess of 25 percent of the total of the past-due benefits to which the claimant is entitled by reason of such judgment, and the Commissioner of Social Security may, notwithstanding the provisions of section 405(i) of this title, but subject to subsection (d) of this section, certify the amount of such fee for payment to such attorney out of, and not in addition to, the amount of such past-due benefits. In case of any such judgment, no other fee may be payable or certified for

1 In accordance with this district’s Standing Order of November 18, 2020, and consistent with guidance from the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States, this Decision and Order identifies the plaintiff by first name and last initial only.

2 The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has clarified that § 406 (b) motions must be filed within 14 days (plus three days for mailing) after the claimant receives notice of the Commissioner’s favorable award on remand, consistent with Rule 54 (d)(2)(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and equitable tolling principles. See Sinkler v. Berryhill, 932 F.3d 83, 86 (2d Cir. 2019); see also Rule 5.5 (g) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for the Western District of New York. payment for such representation except as provided in this paragraph.

The Social Security Administration awarded Plaintiff past-due benefits by letter dated April 19, 2022. (Docket No. 22-3.) The agency withheld $37,573.50 for attorney fees, representing 25% of the past-due benefits. Id. Plaintiff’s counsel seeks $37,573.50 in attorney fees, consistent with the contingent-fee agreement that provides for attorney fees not to exceed 25% of any recovery. (Docket No. 22-2.) Having thoroughly reviewed counsel=s fee request and supporting documentation, this Court finds that the requested fee is reasonable based on counsel=s experience in social security law, the character of the representation provided, and the favorable results achieved. See Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 808, 1122 S. Ct. 1817, 152 L. Ed. 2d 996 (2002). Moreover, there is no indication that this fee is a windfall. Id. Plaintiff’s counsel’s $37,573.50 fee request is therefore granted under 42 U.S.C. § 406 (b)(1)(A). By stipulation approved and ordered in this case on March 22, 2022 (Docket No. 21), and by stipulations approved and ordered in two previous cases (14-CV-6373T and 18-CV-6087T), Plaintiff’s counsel received a total of $16,650 in fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (d). (See Docket No. 22-1 at ¶ 2.) Because the fee granted herein exceeds the EAJA fee, Plaintiff’s counsel must refund the $16,650 EAJA fee to Plaintiff. See Wells v. Bowen, 855 F.2d 37, 42 (2d Cir. 1988).

IT HEREBY IS ORDERED, that counsel=s Motion for Attorney Fees in the amount of $37,573.50 under 42 U.S.C. ' 406 (b)(1)(A) (Docket No. 22) is GRANTED. FURTHER, that Plaintiff’s counsel is directed to refund to Plaintiff the $16,650 EAJA award within 14 days after receiving the § 406 (b) award. SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 21, 2022 Buffalo, New York

s/William M. Skretny WILLIAM M. SKRETNY United States District Judge