Opinion
BENJAMIN WAGNER, United States Attorney, DONNA L. CALVERT, Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration, MARLA K. LETELLIER, Special Assistant United States Attorney, San Francisco, California, Attorneys for Defendant.
SENGTHIENE BOSAVANH, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff.
STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), AND COSTS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1920
BARBARA A. McAULIFFE, Magistrate Judge.
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between the parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Plaintiff be awarded attorney fees in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($5, 500.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). This amount represents compensation for all legal services rendered on behalf of Plaintiff by counsel in connection with this civil action, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 1920; 2412(d).
After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Plaintiff, the government will consider the matter of Plaintiff's assignment of EAJA fees to counsel Sengthiene Bosavanh, Esq (Counsel). Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 598, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010), the ability to honor the assignment will depend on whether the fees are subject to any offset allowed under the United States Department of the Treasury's Offset Program. After the order for EAJA fees is entered, the government will determine whether they are subject to any offset.
Fees shall be made payable to Plaintiff, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Counsel, pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to Counsel.
This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff's request for EAJA attorney fees, and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of Defendant under the EAJA or otherwise. Payment of the agreed amount shall constitute a complete release from, and bar to, any and all claims that Plaintiff and/or Counsel, including Counsel's firm, may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action.
This award is without prejudice to the rights of Counsel and/or Counsel's firm to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.
ORDER
PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED that Plaintiff shall be awarded attorney fees in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($5, 500.00), as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010) and subject to the terms of the above-referenced Stipulation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.