Smith v. Social Security Administration

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

LISA AKINS SMITH, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) Case No. CIV-23-312-GLJ MARTIN O’MALLEY, ) Commissioner of the Social ) Security Administration, ) ) Defendant. )

OPINION AND ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEY’S FEES TO THE PLAINTIFF UNDER THE EAJA

Plaintiff Lisa Akins Smith is the prevailing party in this action under the Social Security Act, following an unopposed motion to remand. Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $5,901.50 for 21.7 hours of attorney work and 4.5 hours of paralegal/intern work, pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) [Docket No. 24 & Ex. 1]. The Commissioner has no objection to the fee award [Docket No. 25]. Upon review of the record herein, the Court finds that the requested amount is reasonable and that the Commissioner should be ordered to pay it to Plaintiff as the prevailing party herein. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) (“Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United States fees and other expenses, in addition to any costs awarded pursuant to subsection (a), incurred by that party in any civil action (other than cases sounding in tort)[.]”); see also Manning v. Astrue, 510 F.3d 1246, 1251 (10th Cir. 2007) (“The EAJA therefore permits

attorney’s fees reimbursement to financially eligible prevailing parties, who make a proper application, and not to their attorneys.”). Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application for Award of Attorney’s Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act [Docket No. 24] is hereby granted and that the Government is therefore ordered to pay the above-referenced amount to Plaintiff as the prevailing party herein. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff’s attorney is

subsequently awarded any fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1), said attorney shall refund the smaller amount of such fees to the Plaintiff pursuant to Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986). DATED this 3rd day of June, 2024.

______________________________________ GERALD L. JACKSON UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE