Halverson v. Barnhart
Halverson v. Barnhart
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
In a prior appeal, we reversed the district court’s judgment affirming the deci
The parties are familiar with the facts and the medical evidence in the underlying record, so we proceed to the discussion of attorneys’ fees. A party that prevails against the United States in a civil action is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees under the EAJA “unless the court finds that the position of the United States was substantially justified.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A). The EAJA creates a presumption that fees will be awarded to prevailing parties. See Thomas v. Peterson, 841 F.2d 332, 335 (9th Cir. 1988). Therefore, it is the government’s burden to show that its position was substantially justified. See Gutierrez v. Barnhart, 274 F.3d 1255, 1258 (9th Cir. 2001).
A substantially justified position must have a reasonable basis both in law and fact. See id.; Flores v. Shalala, 49 F.3d 562, 569 (9th Cir. 1995) (“In this circuit, we apply a reasonableness standard in determining whether the government’s position was substantially justified for purposes of the EAJA.”). The EAJA provides that the “ ‘position of the United States’ means, in addition to the position taken by the United States in the civil action, the action or failure to act by the agency upon which the civil action is based.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(D).
Once a claimant shows that she cannot return to her previous job, the burden of proof shifts to the Commissioner to show that she can do other types of work. See Embrey v. Bowen, 849 F.2d 418, 422 (9th Cir. 1988). The Commissioner must ordinarily use a vocational expert to meet that burden. See id. “Hypothetical questions posed to the vocational expert must set out all the limitations and restrictions of the particular claimant .... If the assumptions in the hypothetical are not supported by the record, the opinion of the vocational expert that claimant has a residual working capacity has no evidentiary value.” Id. (emphasis added). In Flores, we held that the Secretary’s decision to defend an ALJ ruling in which the ALJ had relied on a vocational expert’s testimony was not substantially justified because the ALJ failed to consider a relevant report in posing the hypothetical. 49 F.3d at 570-71. Relying on this authority, Halverson argues that because the ALJ’s hypothetical omitted relevant limitations clearly evidenced in the medical reports, the vocational expert’s opinion had no evidentiary value. Consequently, she argues, the ALJ’s reliance on that opinion and the Commissioner’s defense of the ALJ’s ruling were not substantially justified.
We agree. Although it is a close question, we find insufficient support in the record for the ALJ’s omission from its vocational hypothetical of all limitations from migraines in the absence of strong odors. We previously held that the ALJ’s determination lacked substantial evidence because, even though Halverson’s testimony about the frequency of episodes was properly discredited and her treating physician indicated that her condition had improved, the medical record showed that she continued to suffer two attacks per month. Halverson v. Apfel, No. 99-35680, 2000 WL 1763215 (9th Cir. Nov.17, 2000) (unpub.disp.).
The ALJ’s failure to incorporate into the vocational hypothetical such findings from the later medical reports was unreasonable. First, the ALJ did not point to any
Based on these factors, the ALJ did not have a reasonable basis to omit from the vocational hypothetical all limitations from migraines in the absence of strong odor triggers. Thus, the Commissioner was not substantially justified in defending the ALJ’s decision based on the vocational expert’s opinion, and we reverse the district court’s denial of attorneys fees under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A).
We also remand so that the district court can exercise its discretion whether to award costs (in addition to attorneys’ fees and expenses) to Halverson under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)(1).
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.