United States Fourth Circuit

In a series of consolidated actions seeking Social Security disability benefits, the award of attorney's fees to claimants' attorneys is reversed, where the Equal Access to Justice Act requires payments directly to the claimants, not to their attorneys.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/07/2009
• Published 05/07/2009

Judges

• Before WILLIAMS, Chief Judge, TRAXLER, Circuit Judge, and ROBERT J. CONRAD, JR., Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Michael Eugene Robinson, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Appellant.  Stephen F. Shea, Elkind & Shea, Silver Spring, Maryland, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General, William Kanter, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., Rod J. Rosenstein, United States Attorney, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellant.