United States Ninth Circuit

Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 USC 2412(d), the mere fact that an issue is one of first impression does not preclude a finding that the government's position lacked "substantial justification," and thus a prevailing party may obtain attorney's fees.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/20/2001
• Published 12/20/2001

Judges

• FISHER, Circuit Judge:, Before:  Henry A. Politz,William A. Fletcher and Raymond C. Fisher, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Harvey P. Sackett, San Jose, California, and Geri N. Kahn, San Francisco, California, for the plaintiff-appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• R. Linda Cosme and Jeffrey H. Baird, Assistant Regional Counsel, Social Security Administration, San Francisco, California, for the defendant-appellee.