Mudd case clarifies the law of attorneys' fees in Social Security cases

In Mudd v. Barnhart, the Fourth Circuit in a published opinion by Judge Michael, joined by Judge King and District Judge Spencer, affirmed the determination by Judge Conrad of the W.D. Va. on attorneys' fees in a Social Security case, notwithstanding the Commissioner's argument that "the amount requested ($12,231.50) divided by the number of hours spent in court-related work (16.6) yielded 'a windfall to counsel" in the form of an hourly rate of $736.84.'"