Opinion
20 C 871
03-30-2022
MARK T. CARLSON, Plaintiff v. KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER
HONORABLE BARBARA B. CRABB UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Plaintiffs counsel petitioned for attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). Plaintiffs counsel logged 36.40 hours of attorney time and 14.75 hours of non-attorney time. Defendant has since submitted a response in which Defendant states that he does not oppose an award for attorney fees in the amount of $8,799.35 (eight-thousand seven-hundred ninety-nine dollars and thirty-five cents). Based upon the foregoing response and the Court's finding that the fees incurred are both reasonable and necessary and qualify under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an award of attorney fees in the sum of $8,799.35 (eight-thousand seven-hundred ninety-nine dollars and thirty-five cents) shall be paid by Defendant in full satisfaction and settlement of any and all claims Plaintiff may have pursuant to the EAJA. These fees are awarded to Plaintiff and not Plaintiffs attorney and can be offset to satisfy preexisting debts that the litigant owes the United States under Astrue v. Rattiff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 9 (2010). If counsel for the Defendant can verify that Plaintiff owes no pre-existing debt subject to offset, Defendant shall direct that the award be made payable to Plaintiffs attorney pursuant to the EAJA assignment duly signed by Plaintiff.