Szczepaniak v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration ( 2024 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA LESA SUZANN SZCZEPANIAK, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Case No. CIV-23-145-G ) KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ) Acting Commissioner of the Social ) Security Administration, ) ) Defendant. ) ORDER On October 16, 2023, the Court entered an Order and a Judgment reversing the decision of the Social Security Administration and remanding this case for further proceedings. See Doc. Nos. 15, 16. Now before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2412 et seq. See Pl.’s Mot. (Doc. No. 20). Defendant has responded (Doc. No. 21), representing that the parties have stipulated to an award of $7500.00 in fees. Having considered Plaintiff’s unopposed request and the relevant record, the Court finds that: “(1) [P]laintiff is a ‘prevailing party’; (2) the position of the United States was not ‘substantially justified’; and (3) there are no special circumstances that make an award of fees unjust” in this case. Hackett v. Barnhart, 475 F.3d 1166, 1172 (10th Cir. 2007) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A)). Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s request and awards fees in the amount of $7500.00, with said amount to be paid directly to Plaintiff and sent in care of John L. Harlan, P.O. Box 1326, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, 74067. If attorney’s fees are also awarded under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), Plaintiffs counsel shall refund the smaller award to Plaintiff in accordance with Weakley v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 575, 580 (10th Cir. 1986). IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of May, 2024. CHARLES B. GOODWIN United States District Judge