Joseph J. ROYZER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant-Appellee

RALPH B. GUY, Jr., Circuit Judge.

Claimant’s counsel, Gerald Benjamin, appeals from a reduction in the attorney’s fee he claimed after successfully representing claimant in a social security disability benefits claim. The district judge found the hourly rate to be “higher than is justified” and the hours expended to be “more than reasonably necessary.” In the district court, the Secretary did not oppose this fee request, but on appeal has filed a brief in support of the district court reduction.1

Upon review, we conclude that the district court reduction was inconsistent with our holding in…