No. 19-6900

Aldon Smith v. Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2019-12-10
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: attorney-fees attorneys-fees buckhannon civil-procedure civil-rights due-process equal-access-to-justice-act government-litigation judicial-determination mootness prevailing-party standing voluntary-change
Key Terms:
JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2020-01-24 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does Buckhannon apply in fee determinations under the Equal Access to Justice Act?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED This Court in Buckhannon addressed an award of prevailing party attorneys’ fees pursuant to Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 due to voluntary change in position by the government party. Many courts have extended Buckhannon’s holding to the Equal Access to Justice Act. 1. Does Buckhannon apply in fee determinations under the Equal Access to Justice Act? 2. Is Government, in this case, a “mischievous defendant” under Buckhannon, warranting an award of attorney’s fees under the Equal Access of Justice Act when Government moved to moot a case by granting all requested relief, after a judicial determination had been made at a lower court, and Government disclosed for the first time information on appeal, which would have provided Government defeat, if known to the Petitioner, at the lower court? 3. Does Buckhannon apply in fee determinations under the Equal Access to Justice Act if there is an intervening voluntary reversal in conduct by Government after an initial victory by the Government in a lower court?

Docket Entries

2020-01-27
Petition DENIED.
2020-01-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/24/2020.
2020-01-02
Waiver of right of respondent Wilkie, Robert to respond filed.
2019-10-07
Motion (19M39) for leave to proceed as a veteran Denied.
2019-08-14
MOTION (19M39) DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/1/2019.
2019-08-09
Motion (19M39) for leave to proceed as a veteran filed.
2019-08-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 9, 2020)
2019-06-06
Application (18A1269) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until August 9, 2019.
2019-05-30
Application (18A1269) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 10, 2019 to August 9, 2019, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Aldon Smith
Michael StanskiLaw Office of Michael Stanski, Petitioner
Michael StanskiLaw Office of Michael Stanski, Petitioner
Wilkie, Robert
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent