Opinion
2:22-cv-01978-BNW
08-18-2023
BRIDGET ANN CHRISTIANA, Plaintiff, v. KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING, INC., CPC Marc V. Kalagian JASON M. FRIERSON DAVID PRIDD
LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING, INC., CPC
Marc V. Kalagian
JASON M. FRIERSON
DAVID PRIDDY
STIPULATION AND PROPOSED 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
TO THE HONORABLE BRENDA WEKSLER, MAGISTRATE JUDGE
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Bridget Ann Christiana be awarded attorney fees in the amount of FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED dollars ($4,900.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and no costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1920. 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 Bridget Ann Christiana, the government will consider the matter of Bridget Ann Christiana's assignment of EAJA fees to Marc Kalagian. The retainer agreement containing the assignment is attached as exhibit 1. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2529 (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 Bridget Ann Christiana, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Bridget Ann Christiana does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc., CPC, pursuant to the assignment executed by Bridget Ann Christiana. Any payments made shall be delivered to Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc., CPC.
The parties do not stipulate whether counsel for the plaintiff has a cognizable lien under federal law against the recovery of EAJA fees that survives the Treasury Offset Program.
This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Bridget Ann Christiana'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 Bridget Ann Christiana and/or Marc Kalagian including Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc., CPC, may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action.
This award is without prejudice to the rights of Marc Kalagian and/or the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc., CPC, to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.
ORDER
Approved and so ordered:
PROOF OF SERVICE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
I am employed in the county of Los Angeles, State of California. I am over the age of 18 and not a party to the within action. My business address is 12631 East Imperial Highway, Suite C-115, Santa Fe Springs, California 90670.
On this day of August 17, 2023, I served the foregoing document described as STIPULATION 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 on the interested parties in this action by placing a true copy thereof enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed as follows:
Ms. Bridget Ann Christiana
8000 Park Bench Ct.
Las Vegas, NV 89143
I caused such envelope with postage thereon fully prepaid to be placed in the United States mail at Santa Fe Springs, California.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the above is true and correct.
I declare that I am employed in the office of a member of this court at whose direction the service was made.
SOCIAL SECURITY REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT NOV 28 2022
This agreement was made on November 14, 2022, by and between the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc., CPC referred to as attorney and Ms. Bridget Ann Christiana, S.S.N.-4758, herein referred to as Claimant.
1. Claimant employs and appoints Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc.. CPC to represent Claimant as Ms. Bridget Ann Christiana's Attorneys at law in a Social Security claim regarding a claim for disability benefits and empowers Attorney to take such action as may be advisable in the judgment of Attorney, including the taking of judicial review.
2. In consideration of the services to be performed by the Attorney and it being the desire of the Claimant to compensate Attorney out of the proceeds shall receive 25% of the past due benefits awarded by the Social Security' Administration to the claimant or such amount as the Commissioner may designate under 42 U.S.C. § 406(a)(2)(A) which is $7,200.00 as of November 30, 2022, whichever is smaller, upon successful completion of the case at or before a first hearing decision from an ALJ. [f the Claimant and the Attorney are unsuccessful in obtaining a recovery, Attorney will receive no fee. This matter is subject expedited fee approval except as stated in ¶3.
3. The provisions of ¶ 2 only apply to dispositions at or before a first hearing decision from an ALJ. The fee for successful prosecution of this matter is 25% of the past due benefits awarded upon reversal of any unfavorable ALJ decision for work before the Social Security Administration. Attorney shall petition for authorization to charge this fee in compliance with the Social Security Act for all time whether exclusively or not committed to such representation.
4. if this matter requires judicial review of any adverse decision of the Social Security Administration, the fee for successful prosecution of this matter is a separate 25% of the past due benefits awarded upon reversal of any unfavorable ALJ decision for work before the court. Attorney shall seek compensation under the Equal Access to Justice Act and such amount shall credit to the client for fees otherwise payable for that particular work. Client shall endorse such documents as are needed to pay Attorney any amounts under (he EAJA and assigns such fee awards to Attorney.
5. Claimant shall pay all costs, including, but not limited to costs for medical reports, filing fees, and consultations and examinations by experts, in connection with the cause of action.
6. Attorney shall be entitled to a reasonable fee; notwithstanding the Claimant may discharge or obtain the substitution of attorneys before Attorney has completed the services for which he is hereby employed.
7. Attorney has made no warranties as to the successful termination of the cause of action, and all expressions made by Attorney relative thereto are matters of Attorney's opinion only.
8. This Agreement comprises the entire contract between Attorney and Claimant. The laws of the State of California shall govern the construction and interpretation of this Agreement except that federal law governs the approval of fees by the Commissioner or a federal court. Business and Professions Code § 6147(a)(4) states “that the fee is not set by law but is negotiable between attorney and client.”
9. Attorney agrees to perform all the services herein mentioned for the compensation provided above.
10. Client authorizes attorney to pay out of attorney fees and without cost to client any and all referral or association fees to Don H. Jorgensen, not to exceed 25% of fees.
11. The receipt from Claimant of none is hereby acknowledged by attorney to be placed in trust and used for costs.
It is so agreed.