US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES v. SCHAEFER 509 U.S. 292
Subscribe to Cases that cite 509 U.S. 292OCTOBER TERM, 1992
Syllabus
SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES v. SCHAEFER
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
No.92-311. Argued March 31, 1993-Decided June 24,1993
In 1986, respondent Schaefer filed a claim for Social Security disability benefits, which was denied by petitioner Secretary at the administrative level. Schaefer sought judicial review and, on April 4, 1989, the District Court reversed the administrative denial of benefits and remanded the case to the Secretary pursuant to the fourth sentence of 42 U. S. C. § 405(g). Schaefer was awarded benefits on remand and, in July 1990, he returned to the District Court and filed for attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). In opposing the motion, the Secretary noted that the EAJA required Schaefer to file his application within 30 days of "final judgment" in the action, 28 U. S. C. § 2412(d) (1)(B), and argued that the 30-day clock began running when the District Court's sentence-four remand order of April 4, 1989, became final, which would have occurred at the end of the 60 days for appeal provided under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a). The District Court awarded fees to Schaefer, holding that a sentence-four remand order is not a final judgment where a court retains jurisdiction and plans to enter a judgment after remand proceedings are complete. The Court of Appeals affirmed on the same basis.
Held:
1. The 30-day period for filing an application for EAJA fees begins immediately upon expiration of the time for appeal of a "sentence-four remand order." Pp. 295-302.
(a) A district court remanding a case pursuant to sentence four of § 405(g) must enter judgment in the case and may not retain jurisdiction over the administrative proceedings on remand. Sentence four's plain language authorizes a court to enter a judgment "with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing," not a remand order "with or without" a judgment. Pp. 295-297.
(b) The Court's decision in Sullivan v. Hudson, 490 U. S. 877,892that fees incurred during administrative proceedings held pursuant to a district court's remand order may be recovered under the EAJA-does not apply where the remand is ordered pursuant to sentence four of § 405(g). Pp. 298-300.
(c) Contrary to dicta in Sullivan v. Hudson, a Social Security claimant who obtains a sentence-four judgment reversing the Secretary's denial of benefits meets the description of a "prevailing party" set out in Texas State Teachers Assn. v. Garland Independent School Dist., 489 U. S. 782, 791-792. Pp.300-302.
2. Schaefer's application for EAJA fees was nonetheless timely under § 2412(d)(1) because the District Court failed to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58 in entering its sentence-four remand order of April 4, 1989. The EAJA's 30-day time limit runs from the end of the period for appeal, and that period does not begin until a judgment is entered in compliance with the formalities of Rule 58. Because the District Court never entered formal judgment, neither the time for appeal nor the EAJA's 30-day clock had run when Schaefer filed his application. Pp. 302-303.
960 F.2d 1053, affirmed.
SCALIA, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which REHNQUIST, C.J., and WHITE, O'CONNOR, KENNEDY, SOUTER, and THOMAS, JJ., joined. STEVENS, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which BLACKMUN, J., joined, post, p. 303.
William K. Kelley argued the cause pro hac vice for petitioner. On the briefs were Solicitor General Starr, Acting Solicitor General Bryson, Assistant Attorney General Gerson, Deputy Solicitor General Mahoney, Edwin S. Kneedler, and William Kanter.
Randall J. Fuller argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Brian Wolfman and David C. Vladeck.*
JUSTICE SCALIA delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case concerns the proper timing of an application for attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) in a Social Security case. Under 42 U. S. C. §405(g), a claimant has the right to seek judicial review of a final
*Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for Legal Services of Northern California, Inc., et al. by Gary F. Smith and Gill Deford; and for the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives by Nancy G. Shor and Kirk B. Roose.
