Haroutinoun Ghokassian v. Shirley S. Chater, Commissioner of Social Security

99 F.3d 1145 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. Haroutinoun GHOKASSIAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Shirley S. CHATER, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant-Appellee. No. 95-55783. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Aug. 9, 1996. Decided Oct. 21, 1996. Before: FLETCHER, TASHIMA, Circuit Judges, RESTANI * , United States Court of International Trade Judge. MEMORANDUM ** Plaintiff-appellant Haroutinoun Ghokassian ("appellant") appeals from the district court's denial of attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (d)(1)(A). We reverse the district court's decision. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 1 Appellant claimed he was unable to work beginning June 1, 1987, due to "nervous and mental" problems. Consequently, he applied for disability insurance and Social Security Insurance ("SSI") benefits on July 1 and July 9, 1987. Following a hearing, an administrative law judge denied the claim. The Appeals…