Berry v. Saul

District Court, W.D. North Carolina

Berry v. Saul

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA STATESVILLE DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:20-CV-00002-FDW NICOLE BALLARD BERRY,

Plaintiff,

v. ORDER

ANDREW M. SAUL,

Defendant.

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Consent Motion for Attorney Fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”),

28 U.S.C. § 2412

(d). (Doc. No. 18). For the reasons stated in the uncontested motion, it is GRANTED. On October 29, 2020, the Court remanded this case for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. No. 16). Pursuant to Shalala v. Schaefer, Plaintiff is the prevailing party by virtue of remand.

509 U.S. 292, 300-02

,

113 S. Ct. 2625

, 125 L. Ed. 2d. 239 (1993). Under the EAJA, a court has the power to award fees to a prevailing party, other than the United States, incurred by that party in a civil action against the United States.

28 U.S.C. § 2412

(d)(1)(A); see also Pierce v. Underwood,

487 U.S. 552, 565

,

108 S. Ct. 2541

,

101 L. Ed. 2d 490

(1988) (finding that a court will award attorney’s fees unless it finds that the United States was “substantial justified” in its position). Here, Plaintiff filed the Consent Motion for Attorney Fees on January 15, 2021. (Doc. No. 18). The parties have agreed the Commissioner of Social Security should pay the sum of $6,189.56 in fees to compensate Plaintiff’s counsel 32.5 hours of work expended on obtaining a favorable result for Plaintiff in this Court. (Doc. No. 18, p. 1). IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's Consent Motion for Attorney Fees (Doc. No. 18) is GRANTED. The Commissioner of Social Security shall pay to Plaintiff the sum of $6,189.56 in attorney’s fees. IT IS SO ORDERED. Signed: January 26, 2021

Frank D. Whitney United States District Judge tg i

Reference

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