1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
9 Maribel Vargas, No. CV-18-04712-PHX-MTL
10 Plaintiff, ORDER
11 v.
12 Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 13 Defendant. 14 15 The matter before the Court is Plaintiff Maribel Vargas’s Motion for Award of 16 Attorney Fees as Authorized by the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). (Doc. 23.) For 17 the following reasons, the Court grants Plaintiff’s Motion and awards $7,416.92 in 18 attorney’s fees. 19 I. BACKGROUND 20 On December 6, 2019, the Court reversed the January 12, 2018 decision of the 21 Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) and remanded the matter for further consideration of 22 Plaintiff’s Application for Disability Insurance Benefits. (Doc. 21.) Judgment was entered 23 on that same day. (Doc. 22.) On March 4, 2020, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Award of 24 Attorney Fees pursuant to the EAJA and Memorandum in support thereof. (Docs. 23, 24.) 25 Plaintiff’s counsel seeks attorney’s fees in the amount of $7,416.92.1 Defendant 26 Commissioner of Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”) opposes the 27 1 Plaintiff’s motion initially sought $6,903.79 in attorney’s fees. (Doc. 23 at 2.) Plaintiff 28 amended the amount sought to $7,416.92 in the reply in support of the motion based on additional hours spent to complete the pending briefing. (Doc. 26 at 8.) 1 granting of fees, and, should the Court grant Plaintiff’s motion, the amount requested. 2 (Doc. 25.) 3 II. LEGAL STANDARD 4 In any action brought by or against the United States, except one sounding in tort, 5 the EAJA provides that “a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United 6 States fees and other expenses . . . unless the court finds that the position of the United 7 States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust.” 28 8 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A); Tobeler v. Colvin, 749 F.3d 830, 832 (9th Cir. 2014). For purposes 9 of the EAJA, the position of the United States refers to “both the government’s litigation 10 position and the underlying agency action giving rise to the civil action.” Meier v. Colvin, 11 727 F.3d 867, 870 (9th Cir. 2013). Under the EAJA, a court “shall” grant attorney’s fees 12 “to a prevailing plaintiff unless the government meets its burden to demonstrate that both 13 its litigation position and the agency decision on review were substantially justified.” 14 Campbell v. Astrue, 736 F.3d 867, 868 (9th Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks and 15 citations omitted). 16 To meet the substantial justification standard, the government’s position must have 17 been “justified in substance or in the main—that is, justified to a degree that could satisfy 18 a reasonable person.” Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988) (internal quotation 19 marks omitted). In determining whether the government’s position was substantially 20 justified, a court may “properly look to decisions of the ALJ.” Meier, 727 F.3d at 872.2 21 Furthermore, the nature and scope of the ALJ’s legal errors are material in determining 22 whether the Commissioner’s decision to defend them was substantially justified. Flores v. 23 Shalala, 49 F.3d 562, 570 (9th Cir. 1995). A decision to defend an ALJ’s fundamental 24 procedural errors cannot be said to be substantially justified. See Shafer v. Astrue, 518 F.3d 25 1067, 1071-72 (9th Cir. 2008). Lastly, “[i]t is the government’s burden to show that its
26 2 The Ninth Circuit reasoned that examining the government’s conduct as adjudicator is proper because the typical complaint in a social security case often “alleges procedural and 27 substantive errors by the ALJ.” Meier, 727 F.3d at 870. Moreover, the ALJ’s decision usually serves as the final decision on a determination of disability benefits and therefore 28 “constitutes not only an adjudication but also the Commissioner’s final decision denying benefits.” Id. at 871. 1 position was substantially justified.” Meier, 727 F.3d. at 870. 2 III. ANALYSIS 3 Plaintiff Maribel Vargas is a prevailing party for purposes of the EAJA because she 4 obtained an order from the Court remanding the case to the Commissioner. See Shalala v. 5 Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 300-01 (1993). 6 The underlying agency action in the present matter, the ALJ decision, was not 7 substantially justified. The Court based its remand order upon numerous deficiencies in the 8 ALJ’s decision. Thus, for EAJA purposes, the ALJ decision serves as the issue upon which 9 the Court ordered the remand. The Court remanded the case partly because the ALJ’s 10 proffered reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony failed to meet the requisite 11 legal standards. (Doc. 21.) The ALJ’s description of Plaintiff’s testimony as “inconsistent” 12 with the medical record was more properly characterized by the Court as a “lack of medical 13 evidence.” (Id. at 5) (emphasis in original). The Court explained that although this finding 14 was supported by substantial evidence, it was not a clear and convincing reason for 15 rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. (Id. at 7.) Similarly, the Court concluded that the 16 ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff’s conservative treatment plan precluded the introduction 17 of her testimony was unsupported by substantial evidence. (Id. at 8.) These errors are 18 fundamental. See Shafer 518 F.3d at 1072 (explaining that a failure to provide clear and 19 convincing reasons amounts to fundamental procedural error). The ALJ also erred in the 20 residual functioning capacity (“RFC”) determination by resorting to boilerplate language. 21 (Id. at 9.) The Court also could not identify how the ALJ arrived at the conclusion that 22 Plaintiff could perform limited sedentary work. (Id. at 10.) 23 The Court finds Defendant’s arguments to be unpersuasive. The Commissioner 24 defends the ALJ’s decision by relitigating an issue which the Court has already decided— 25 namely, that the ALJ’s decision contains fundamental legal error. The ALJ repeatedly 26 failed to base conclusions on the requisite legal standards. As a result, the underlying 27 agency action, and, in turn, the position of the United States, was not substantially justified. 28 See Sampson v. Chater, 103 F.3d 918, 922 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoting Flores, 49 F.3d at 570) 1 (“It is difficult to imagine any circumstance in which the government’s decision to defend 2 its actions in court would be substantially justified, but the underlying administrative 3 decision would not.”). 4 A finding that an underlying agency action lacks substantial justification eliminates 5 the need to inquire into whether the government’s litigation position (i.e., the decision to 6 defend the ALJ determination) was substantially justified. To meet its burden, “the 7 government must establish that it was substantially justified on the whole, considering, 8 first, the underlying conduct of the ALJ[.]” Gutierrez v. Barnhart, 274 F.3d 1255, 1259 9 (9th Cir. 2001). Here, the Commissioner failed to meet its burden to show that the ALJ’s 10 decision was substantially justified.
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1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
9 Maribel Vargas, No. CV-18-04712-PHX-MTL
10 Plaintiff, ORDER
11 v.
12 Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 13 Defendant. 14 15 The matter before the Court is Plaintiff Maribel Vargas’s Motion for Award of 16 Attorney Fees as Authorized by the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). (Doc. 23.) For 17 the following reasons, the Court grants Plaintiff’s Motion and awards $7,416.92 in 18 attorney’s fees. 19 I. BACKGROUND 20 On December 6, 2019, the Court reversed the January 12, 2018 decision of the 21 Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) and remanded the matter for further consideration of 22 Plaintiff’s Application for Disability Insurance Benefits. (Doc. 21.) Judgment was entered 23 on that same day. (Doc. 22.) On March 4, 2020, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Award of 24 Attorney Fees pursuant to the EAJA and Memorandum in support thereof. (Docs. 23, 24.) 25 Plaintiff’s counsel seeks attorney’s fees in the amount of $7,416.92.1 Defendant 26 Commissioner of Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”) opposes the 27 1 Plaintiff’s motion initially sought $6,903.79 in attorney’s fees. (Doc. 23 at 2.) Plaintiff 28 amended the amount sought to $7,416.92 in the reply in support of the motion based on additional hours spent to complete the pending briefing. (Doc. 26 at 8.) 1 granting of fees, and, should the Court grant Plaintiff’s motion, the amount requested. 2 (Doc. 25.) 3 II. LEGAL STANDARD 4 In any action brought by or against the United States, except one sounding in tort, 5 the EAJA provides that “a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United 6 States fees and other expenses . . . unless the court finds that the position of the United 7 States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust.” 28 8 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A); Tobeler v. Colvin, 749 F.3d 830, 832 (9th Cir. 2014). For purposes 9 of the EAJA, the position of the United States refers to “both the government’s litigation 10 position and the underlying agency action giving rise to the civil action.” Meier v. Colvin, 11 727 F.3d 867, 870 (9th Cir. 2013). Under the EAJA, a court “shall” grant attorney’s fees 12 “to a prevailing plaintiff unless the government meets its burden to demonstrate that both 13 its litigation position and the agency decision on review were substantially justified.” 14 Campbell v. Astrue, 736 F.3d 867, 868 (9th Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks and 15 citations omitted). 16 To meet the substantial justification standard, the government’s position must have 17 been “justified in substance or in the main—that is, justified to a degree that could satisfy 18 a reasonable person.” Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988) (internal quotation 19 marks omitted). In determining whether the government’s position was substantially 20 justified, a court may “properly look to decisions of the ALJ.” Meier, 727 F.3d at 872.2 21 Furthermore, the nature and scope of the ALJ’s legal errors are material in determining 22 whether the Commissioner’s decision to defend them was substantially justified. Flores v. 23 Shalala, 49 F.3d 562, 570 (9th Cir. 1995). A decision to defend an ALJ’s fundamental 24 procedural errors cannot be said to be substantially justified. See Shafer v. Astrue, 518 F.3d 25 1067, 1071-72 (9th Cir. 2008). Lastly, “[i]t is the government’s burden to show that its
26 2 The Ninth Circuit reasoned that examining the government’s conduct as adjudicator is proper because the typical complaint in a social security case often “alleges procedural and 27 substantive errors by the ALJ.” Meier, 727 F.3d at 870. Moreover, the ALJ’s decision usually serves as the final decision on a determination of disability benefits and therefore 28 “constitutes not only an adjudication but also the Commissioner’s final decision denying benefits.” Id. at 871. 1 position was substantially justified.” Meier, 727 F.3d. at 870. 2 III. ANALYSIS 3 Plaintiff Maribel Vargas is a prevailing party for purposes of the EAJA because she 4 obtained an order from the Court remanding the case to the Commissioner. See Shalala v. 5 Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 300-01 (1993). 6 The underlying agency action in the present matter, the ALJ decision, was not 7 substantially justified. The Court based its remand order upon numerous deficiencies in the 8 ALJ’s decision. Thus, for EAJA purposes, the ALJ decision serves as the issue upon which 9 the Court ordered the remand. The Court remanded the case partly because the ALJ’s 10 proffered reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony failed to meet the requisite 11 legal standards. (Doc. 21.) The ALJ’s description of Plaintiff’s testimony as “inconsistent” 12 with the medical record was more properly characterized by the Court as a “lack of medical 13 evidence.” (Id. at 5) (emphasis in original). The Court explained that although this finding 14 was supported by substantial evidence, it was not a clear and convincing reason for 15 rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. (Id. at 7.) Similarly, the Court concluded that the 16 ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff’s conservative treatment plan precluded the introduction 17 of her testimony was unsupported by substantial evidence. (Id. at 8.) These errors are 18 fundamental. See Shafer 518 F.3d at 1072 (explaining that a failure to provide clear and 19 convincing reasons amounts to fundamental procedural error). The ALJ also erred in the 20 residual functioning capacity (“RFC”) determination by resorting to boilerplate language. 21 (Id. at 9.) The Court also could not identify how the ALJ arrived at the conclusion that 22 Plaintiff could perform limited sedentary work. (Id. at 10.) 23 The Court finds Defendant’s arguments to be unpersuasive. The Commissioner 24 defends the ALJ’s decision by relitigating an issue which the Court has already decided— 25 namely, that the ALJ’s decision contains fundamental legal error. The ALJ repeatedly 26 failed to base conclusions on the requisite legal standards. As a result, the underlying 27 agency action, and, in turn, the position of the United States, was not substantially justified. 28 See Sampson v. Chater, 103 F.3d 918, 922 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoting Flores, 49 F.3d at 570) 1 (“It is difficult to imagine any circumstance in which the government’s decision to defend 2 its actions in court would be substantially justified, but the underlying administrative 3 decision would not.”). 4 A finding that an underlying agency action lacks substantial justification eliminates 5 the need to inquire into whether the government’s litigation position (i.e., the decision to 6 defend the ALJ determination) was substantially justified. To meet its burden, “the 7 government must establish that it was substantially justified on the whole, considering, 8 first, the underlying conduct of the ALJ[.]” Gutierrez v. Barnhart, 274 F.3d 1255, 1259 9 (9th Cir. 2001). Here, the Commissioner failed to meet its burden to show that the ALJ’s 10 decision was substantially justified. Therefore, the Court need not reach the issue of the 11 government’s litigation position. See e.g., Meier, 727 F.3d at 872 (“Because the 12 government’s underlying position was not substantially justified, we need not address 13 whether the government’s litigation position was justified.”); Shafer, 518 F.3d at 1071 14 (stating that the “government’s position must be substantially justified at each stage of the 15 proceedings”) (internal citations omitted). 16 IV. CONCLUSION 17 The Commissioner has failed to show that the underlying agency action was 18 substantially justified or that any special circumstances would make an award unjust. 19 Consequently, the Court finds that a fee award under the EAJA is proper. Plaintiff, through 20 counsel, seeks $7,416.92 in attorney’s fees. (Doc. 26.) The Court has reviewed the Attorney 21 Itemization of Services attached to Plaintiff’s motion (Doc. 24-2) and finds that the time 22 expended and amounts charged are reasonable for this case. Accordingly, 23 IT IS ORDERED granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of Attorney Fees as 24 Authorized by the EAJA (Doc. 23). 25 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is awarded $7,416.92 in attorney’s 26 fees. 27 IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that if the Commissioner determines that Plaintiff 28 does not owe a debt that is subject to offset under the Treasury Offset Program, and agrees 1 || to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act (31 U.S.C. § 3727(b)), the fees will 2|| be made payable to Plaintiff’s attorney. However, if there is a debt owed under the Treasury □□ Offset Program, the remaining EAJA fees after offset will be paid by check made out to 4|| Plaintiff but delivered to Plaintiff’s attorney. See Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 589 || (2010). 6 Dated this 8th day of June, 2020. 7 Wichal T. Hburde ? Michael T. Liburdi 10 United States District Judge 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
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