Lisa S. v. Frank J. Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Lisa S. v. Bisignano, No. 3:22-cv-01644-VET (S.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2026) · United States District Court for the Southern District of California · January 29, 2026 · No. 3:22-cv-01644-VET

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California granted counsel’s motion for attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) after remand of a Social Security disability benefits case resulted in a favorable agency decision and an award of past-due benefits. The court awarded $11,500 in Section 406(b) fees and ordered counsel’s firm to reimburse the plaintiff $1,500 previously awarded under the Equal Access to Justice Act.

Holdings

  1. The requested $11,500 fee was reasonable and should be awarded under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).
  2. Counsel may not retain attorney fees awarded under both EAJA and § 406(b); the firm must reimburse Plaintiff the smaller $1,500 EAJA award.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the requested $11,500 attorney-fee award was reasonable under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).
  2. Whether counsel was required to refund the $1,500 EAJA fee award to Plaintiff upon receiving a § 406(b) fee award.

Disposition

other

Cases Cited (10)

  • Russell v. Sullivan, 930 F.2d 1443, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991)(followed)
  • Gisbrecht v. Barnhart, 535 U.S. 789, 796, 807-808 (2002)(followed)
  • Parrish v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 698 F.3d 1215, 1218 (9th Cir. 2012)(followed)
  • Crawford v. Astrue, 586 F.3d 1142, 1149, 1151 (9th Cir. 2009)(followed)
  • Luzette B. v. King, No. 23cv483-MSB, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19011, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 3, 2025)(followed)
  • Habibullah A. v. Colvin, No. 20cv1971-AGS, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14261, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 27, 2025)(followed)
  • Watkins v. O'Malley, No. 21cv101-BLM, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93524, at *6-8 (S.D. Cal. May 24, 2024)(followed)
  • Roland S. v. Kijakazi, No. 20cv01068-AHG, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 189176, at *9 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 20, 2023)(followed)
  • Reddick v. Berryhill, No. 16-CV-29-BTM-BLM, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91736, at *5-6 (S.D. Cal. May 30, 2019)(followed)
  • Ayersman v. Berryhill, No. 17-cv-1121-WQH-JMA, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1253, at *6-7 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 5, 2021)(followed)

Cited In (0)

No citing cases on record yet.

Download CaseDownload Case DataDownload Case and DataDownload AI Instructions

Court Document

Open PDF
Loading document…

More from United States District Court For The Southern District Of California United States District Court Fo