Opinion
21cv548-BLM
12-28-2021
WENDY J. SATARIANO, Plaintiff, v. ANDREW SAUL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING JOINT MOTION 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
[ECF NO. 21]
HON. BARBARA L. MAJOR UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
On March 29, 2021, Plaintiff filed a complaint against the Commissioner of Social Security, seeking judicial review of the denial of her “application for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits.” ECF No. 1.
On November 1, 2021, the parties filed a Joint Motion for Voluntary Remand. ECF No. 17. On November 3, 2021, the Court granted the parties' motion. ECF No. 18.
On December 20, 2021, the parties filed a Joint Motion 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. ECF No. 21.
The EAJA allows a prevailing party to seek attorney's fees from the United States within thirty days of final judgment. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). “A sentence four remand becomes a final judgment, for purposes of attorneys' fees claims brought pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), upon expiration of the time for appeal.” Akopyan v. Barnhart, 296 F.3d 852, 854 (9th Cir. 2002). If one of the parties is the United States, either party may file a notice of appeal within sixty days of the order appealed from. See Fed. R. App. 4(a)(1)(B). “A plaintiff who obtains a sentence four remand is considered a prevailing party for attorneys' fees.” Akopyan, 296 F.3d at 854. Therefore, Plaintiff is the prevailing party in this action for purposes of attorney's fees, the parties' joint motion is timely, and the Court finds the stipulated amount of fees and expenses reasonable.
Having considered the joint motion and finding the stipulated amount of fees and expenses reasonable, the Court GRANTS the joint motion and AWARDS Plaintiff attorney's fees and expenses in the total amount of $4,602.00, subject to the terms of the parties' joint motion [see ECF No. 21]. Fees will be made payable to Wendy J. Satariano, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Wendy J. Satariano does not owe a federal debt, then the government will cause the payment of fees, expenses, and costs to be made directly to the Law Offices of Rohlfing & Kalagian, LLP, pursuant to the assignment executed by Wendy J. Satariano. Any payments will be delivered to Marc V. Kalagian.
IT IS SO ORDERED.