Opinion
Case No. 3:12cv00024
06-19-2013
PAUL R. POPPEL, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Defendant.
District Judge Walter Herbert Rice
Chief Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington
DECISION AND ORDER
This case is before the Court upon the parties' Stipulation To Award EAJA Fees. (Doc. #19). The parties agree that Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney fees under the Equal Access To Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. §2412, in the total amount of $2,894.06. The parties also agree that such an award will fully satisfy any and all of Plaintiff's claims for fees, expenses, and costs under the EAJA.
Under the parties' agreement, any EAJA fees paid belong to Plaintiff and can be offset to satisfy pre-existing debt that she owes the United States pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. _, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010).
Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS that:
1. The parties' Stipulation To Award EAJA Fees (Doc. #19) is accepted, and the
Commissioner shall pay Plaintiff's attorney fees under 28 U.S.C. §2412 in the total amount of $2,894.06.
2. Defendant shall verify, within thirty days of this Decision and Order, whether or not Plaintiff owes a pre-existing debt to the United States subject to offset. If no such pre-existing debt exists, Defendant shall pay the EAJA award directly to Plaintiff; and
3. The case remains terminated on the docket of this Court.
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Walter Herbert Rice
United States District Judge