EAJA Awards

Agency Agency subcomponent Name Award date Award amount Awardees Claims description Finding basis Actions
U.S. Department of Labor WHD Administrator v. Graham and Rollins, Inc. (original ALJ hearing) and In Re Graham and Rollins, Inc. (appeal case before ARB)
$ 22,100
Leon R. Sequeira (counsel for Respondent Graham and Rollins, Inc.) The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigated Respondent for compliance with H-2B regulations. The WHD determined that Respondent had committed violations of the H-2B requirements, and Respondent requested a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). On June 26, 2018, the ALJ dismissed the case finding that the pertinent statute of limitations barred the proceedings. Respondent filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to the EAJA. On May 19, 2021, the ALJ issued a Recommended Decision and Order Awarding Attorney’s Fees, concluding that the EAJA applied, and that the Administrator of the WHD failed to demonstrate that her position in the matter was substantially justified. Show
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
$ 1,204,312
National Veterans Legal Services Program Ongoing class action litigation regarding a group of Vietnam-era veterans and their survivor Settlement agreement Show
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Martinez v. Wilkie
$ 37,974
Chris Attig Entitlement to VA benefits Settlement agreement Show
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
$ 929,781
National Veterans Legal Services Program Ongoing class action litigation regarding a group of Vietnam-era veterans and their survivors Settlement agreement Show
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Mattingly v. McDonough
$ 46,500
Harold H. Hoffman, III Entitlement to VA benefits Settlement agreement Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS A.O., et al., v. Jaddou, et al.
$ 213,348
REDACTED Class action challenging denials of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Brandt v. Mayorkas, et al
$ 1,141
REDACTED Challenge to delayed decision in naturalization case under 8 U.S.C. § 1447(b) Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Innova Solutions, Inc. v. CAMPAGNOLO
$ 92,008
REDACTED The the parties disputed whether Innova established that the perspective employee would perform a “specialty occupation” under any one of the four criteria under 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A). Petitioner was the prevailing party and the respondent was not substantially justified. Some enhanced rates were justified. Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Adueva v. Mayorkas et al
$ 55,384
REDACTED Claim that USCIS unlawfully withheld EAD adjudications under 8 U.S.C. 1184(p)(6), and interim EADs in the alternative, from 65 Plaintiffs who filed U visa petitions between 2015 and 2017 Plaintiffs are prevailing parties and the government's position here was hardly "substantially justified" and was a blatant disregard of its duty plainly stated under the law. Settlement of amount of fees stipulated by the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Chen v. Wolf, et al
$ 8,100
REDACTED Challenge under the APA to the USCIS denial of form I-90 seeking to replace the applicants permanent resident card (form I-551) Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Melara v. Mayorkas, et al
$ 17,000
REDACTED Challenge under 8 U.S.C. § 1421(c) to denial of naturalization by USCIS. Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Tomas v. United States Attorney General
$ 6,171
REDACTED Non-citizen was ordered removed in absentia and challenged the denial of her motion to reopen, alleging non-receipt of her Notice to Appear, which had been upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Munyuh v. Garland
$ 23,000
REDACTED Challenge to denial of asylum application which had been based on an adverse credibility finding Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Doe v. Mayorkas
$ 188,792
REDACTED Challenges discretionary denials of Lautenberg Iranian refugees based on undisclosed information. Settlement-stipulation of the parties Show
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS Zheng v. Garland
$ 3,292
REDACTED Challenge to the denial by IJ, upheld on appeal to the BIA, of claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture. Petitioner was the prevailing party and the respondent was not substantially justified. Show