Dupree, Jr. v. Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION HENRY DUPREE, JR., Plaintiff, v. Case No. 8:20-cv-2496-AAS KILOLO KIJAKAZI,1 Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Defendant. ______________________________________/ ORDER Henry Dupree, Jr. moves for attorney’s fees and costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. Section 2412. (Doc. 19). The Commissioner does not oppose the motion. (Id. at p. 7).

Mr. Dupree requests $3,055.06 in attorney’s fees. The EAJA permits awards for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a prevailing party against the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2412. An October 14, 2021 order remanded the case to the Commissioner under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. Section 405(g) for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. 17). The Clerk entered judgment in Kilolo Kijakazi is now the Acting Commissioner of Social Security and is automatically substituted as a party pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d). See also section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 405(g) (action survives regardless of any change in the person occupying the office of Commissioner of Social Security). favor of Mr. Dupree. (Doc. 18).

The Commissioner does not contest the following: Mr. Dupree is the prevailing party; Mr. Dupree’s net worth was less than $2 million when he filed his complaint; the Commissioner’s position was not substantially justified; and the Commissioner consents to the requested award of attorney’s fees. A court should grant a Social Security claimant’s request for attorney’s fees when it is unopposed. See Jones v. Colvin, No. 8:13-cv-2900-VMC-AEP, 2015 WL 7721334 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 30, 2015) (awarding unopposed attorney’s fees request). No special circumstances make an attorney’s fees award in this matter unjust.

Thus, Mr. Dupree is entitled to $3,055.06 in attorney’s fees. Further, Mr. Dupree is entitled to $400.00 in costs as reimbursement for filing fees. Powell v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 418 F. Supp. 3d 1068, 1075 (M.D. Fla. 2019).

Attorney’s fees awarded to a claimant under the EAJA can be offset to satisfy the claimant’s pre-existing debt to the United States. Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 589 (2010). Following this order, the United States Department of the Treasury will determine whether Mr. Dupree owes a debt to the United States. Mr. Dupree assigned his rights to EAJA fees to his attorney. (Doc. 26, Ex. 1). If Mr. Dupree has no federal debt, the United States will accept his assignment of EAJA fees and pay the fees directly to counsel.

Accordingly, Mr. Dupree’s motion for attorney’s fees under the EAJA (Doc. 19) is GRANTED. Mr. Dupree is awarded $3,055.06 in attorney’s fees and $400.00 in costs.

ORDERED in Tampa, Florida on January 6, 2022.

Aranda. Apna he Sassoug_ AMANDA ARNOLD SANSONE United States Magistrate Judge