Tillman VAUGHN, Appellant, v. Margaret HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee

Eighth Circuit

Tillman VAUGHN, Appellant, v. Margaret HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee

860 F.2d 295, 1988 U.S. App. LEXIS 14276, 1988 WL 108869

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

DecidedOctober 17, 1988

Docket84-1269

StatusPublished

Cited by12 cases

This text of 860 F.2d 295 (Tillman VAUGHN, Appellant, v. Margaret HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Tillman VAUGHN, Appellant, v. Margaret HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee, 860 F.2d 295, 1988 U.S. App. LEXIS 14276, 1988 WL 108869 (8th Cir. 1988).

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Opinion

This matter is before the court on Tillman Vaughn’s request for attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.

The EAJA provides for a maximum hourly rate of $75 per hour for attorney’s fees “unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor ... justifies a higher fee.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). Vaughn urges the court to award attorney’s fees in excess of the statutory amount. Our review of the record, however, reveals no justification for such an award and thus the request is denied.

Vaughn seeks reimbursement for a total of 93 hours spent on this appeal. *296 Nearly one-third, 31 hours, of those hours were spent drafting Vaughn’s motion for attorney’s fees. We find this excessive and will award attorney’s fees for only fifteen of the hours spent preparing the motion. Thus, Vaughn will receive attorney’s fees in the amount of $5,775.00, for 77 hours work at $75 per hour.

Vaughn also seeks reimbursement for postage fees and photocopy expenses incurred in prosecuting this appeal. The United States Attorney does not contest the request for photocopy expenses but urges the court to deny the postage expenses. We note whether or not postage expenses are reimbursable under the EAJA is an open question. See Aston v. Sec’y of Health & Human Services, 808 F.2d 9 (2d Cir.1986) (allowing postage costs as reasonable “fees and other expenses”); Int’l Woodworkers of America v. Donovan, 769 F.2d 1388, 1392 (9th Cir.1985) (all costs normally billed to client reimbursable under EAJA). But see Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir.1986) (costs for postage fees not authorized by EAJA); Massachusetts Fair Share v. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 776 F.2d 1066, 1069-70 (D.D.Cir.1985) (postage expenses not reimbursable under EAJA); Action on Smoking & Health v. C.A.B., 724 F.2d 211, 224 (D.C.Cir.1984) (postage expenses not compensable under the EAJA). Having reviewed the authorities, we are willing to award Vaughn the $1.54 requested for ordinary postage fees; however, the extraordinary expense for $20.60 to express mail materials to meet court deadlines will be disallowed.

Accordingly, we hereby order the Clerk of this court to award Vaughn $5,813.14, including $5,775.00 for attorney’s fees, $1.54 for postage and $36.60 for photocopy expenses.

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This matter is before the court on Tillman Vaughn’s request for attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.

The EAJA provides for a maximum hourly rate of $75 per hour for attorney’s fees “unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor ... justifies a higher fee.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). Vaughn urges the court to award attorney’s fees in excess of the statutory amount. Our review of the record, however, reveals no justification for such an award and thus the request is denied.

Vaughn seeks reimbursement for a total of 93 hours spent on this appeal. *296 Nearly one-third, 31 hours, of those hours were spent drafting Vaughn’s motion for attorney’s fees. We find this excessive and will award attorney’s fees for only fifteen of the hours spent preparing the motion. Thus, Vaughn will receive attorney’s fees in the amount of $5,775.00, for 77 hours work at $75 per hour.

Vaughn also seeks reimbursement for postage fees and photocopy expenses incurred in prosecuting this appeal. The United States Attorney does not contest the request for photocopy expenses but urges the court to deny the postage expenses. We note whether or not postage expenses are reimbursable under the EAJA is an open question. See Aston v. Sec’y of Health & Human Services, 808 F.2d 9 (2d Cir.1986) (allowing postage costs as reasonable “fees and other expenses”); Int’l Woodworkers of America v. Donovan, 769 F.2d 1388, 1392 (9th Cir.1985) (all costs normally billed to client reimbursable under EAJA). But see Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir.1986) (costs for postage fees not authorized by EAJA); Massachusetts Fair Share v. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 776 F.2d 1066, 1069-70 (D.D.Cir.1985) (postage expenses not reimbursable under EAJA); Action on Smoking & Health v. C.A.B., 724 F.2d 211, 224 (D.C.Cir.1984) (postage expenses not compensable under the EAJA). Having reviewed the authorities, we are willing to award Vaughn the $1.54 requested for ordinary postage fees; however, the extraordinary expense for $20.60 to express mail materials to meet court deadlines will be disallowed.

Accordingly, we hereby order the Clerk of this court to award Vaughn $5,813.14, including $5,775.00 for attorney’s fees, $1.54 for postage and $36.60 for photocopy expenses.

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860 F.2d 295, 1988 U.S. App. LEXIS 14276, 1988 WL 108869, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tillman-vaughn-appellant-v-margaret-heckler-secretary-of-health-and-ca8-1988.

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