Granville v. Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA JOSEPH W. GRANVILLE, CASE NO. 3:18-CV-5582-DWC Plaintiff, ORDER AWARDING 406(B) v. ATTORNEY FEES COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 12 Defendant.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees Pursuant to 42 U.S.C.§ 406(b). Dkt. 22. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73 and Local Rule MJR 13, the parties have consented to have this matter heard by the undersigned Magistrate Judge. See Dkt. 2.

Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), the Court may allow a reasonable fee for an attorney who represented a Social Security claimant before the Court and obtained a favorable judgment, as long as such fee is not in excess of 25% of the total past-due benefits. See Grisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789 (2002). When a contingency agreement applies, the Court will look first to such agreement and will conduct an independent review to assure the reasonableness of the fee requested, taking into consideration the character of the representation and results achieved.

See id. at 807, 808. Although the fee agreement is the primary means for determining the fee, the Court may reduce the fee for substandard representation, delay by the attorney, or because a windfall would result from the requested fee. See Crawford v. Astrue, 586 F.3d 1142, 1151 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Grisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 808).

4 Here, Plaintiff signed a contingency fee agreement agreeing to pay his attorney a fee equal to 25% of the amount awarded for past-due benefits. See Dkt. 22-3. The representation was not substandard and the results achieved were excellent. See Dkt. 16; Dkt. 22-2; Grisbrecht, 535 U.S. at 808. This Court remanded this matter to the Administration for further proceedings and, following remand, Plaintiff was awarded benefits. See Dkt. 16, 22-2. There is no evidence of an excessive delay by the attorney or that a windfall will result from the requested fee. Furthermore, the Commissioner has filed a Response stating they have no objection to the award. Dkt. 25.

11 Plaintiff moves for attorney’s fees in the total amount of $ 16,500.00, which is 25% of Plaintiff’s total past-due benefits. See Dkt. 22, 22-2. Previously, Plaintiff was awarded an attorney fee of $ 7,381.93 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). Dkt. 22-5.1 Therefore, Plaintiff is moving for a remaining attorney’s fee award of $ 9,118.07. After review of the relevant record, the Court orders attorney’s fees in the amount of $ 9,118.07, minus any applicable processing fees as allowed by statute, be awarded to Plaintiff’s attorney, Eitan Kassel Yanich, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).

18 Dated this 29th day of November, 2021.

A David W. Christel United States Magistrate Judge Plaintiff was previously awarded $21,719.78 in attorney fees under the EAJA. See Dkt. 22-5. Plaintiff’s counsel states all but $7,381.93 was garnished by the Treasury. Dkt. 22. Plaintiff has not provided evidence showing $14,337.85 was garnished. Plaintiff did, however, provide evidence that some fees have been garnished (Dkt. 22-6) and the Commissioner does not oppose the fee request. Therefore, the Court will reduce $7,381.93 from the total amount requested.