In the past, this Court has followed the common practice of other courts in our district and directed payment of EAJA fees to counsel when an assignment of benefits was included with the counsel's petition. See, e.g., Hagman v. Astrue, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1299 (M.D. Fla. 2007) (holding EAJA fees must be paid directly to Plaintiff's attorney when such request is made in the petition);Clopper v. Astrue, No. 3:08-cv-1055-J-TEM, 2010 WL 1911420 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2010) (granting request for payment of EAJA fees to be made directly to attorney in accordance with the plaintiff's assignment of fees); Williams v. Comm. of Soc. Sec., No. 6:07-cv-212-ORL-KRS, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31366, at *2-3 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff); Stoykor-Adams v. Astrue, No. 8:06-cv-733-T-TBM, 2008 WL 508198, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 21, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff). Such practice, however, admittedly was permitted without the benefit of knowing whether or not the plaintiff as the prevailing party was responsible for debts owed to the government, and thus subject to offset.
In the past, this Court has followed the common practice of other courts in our district and directed payment of EAJA fees to counsel when an assignment of benefits was included with the counsel's petition. See, e.g., Hagman v. Astrue, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1299 (M.D. Fla. 2007) holding EAJA fees must be paid directly to Plaintiff's attorney when such request is made in the petition); Clopper v. Astrue, No. 3:08-cv-1055-J-TEM, 2010 WL 1911420 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2010) (granting request for payment of EAJA fees to be made directly to attorney in accordance with the plaintiff's assignment of fees);Williams v. Comm. of Soc. Sec., No. 6:07-cv-212-ORL-KRS, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31366, at *2-3 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff);Stoykor-Adams v. Astrue, No. 8:06-cv-733-T-TBM, 2008 WL 508198, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 21, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff). Such practice, however, admittedly was permitted without the benefit of knowing whether the plaintiff as the prevailing party was responsible for debts owed to the government, and thus subject to offset.
In the past, this Court has followed the common practice of other courts in our district and directed payment of EAJA fees to counsel when an assignment of benefits was included with the counsel's petition. See, e.g., Hagman v. Astrue, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1299 (M.D. Fla. 2007) holding EAJA fees must be paid directly to Plaintiff's attorney when such request is made in the petition); Clopper v. Astrue, No. 3:08-cv-1055-J-TEM, 2010 WL 1911420 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2010) (granting request for payment of EAJA fees to be made directly to attorney in accordance with the plaintiff's assignment of fees); Williams v. Comm. of Soc. Sec., No. 6:07-cv-212-ORL-KRS, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31366, at *2-3 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff); Stoykor-Adams v. Astrue, No. 8:06-cv-733-T-TBM, 2008 WL 508198, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb 21, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff). Such practice, however, admittedly was permitted without the benefit of knowing whether or not the plaintiff as the prevailing party was responsible for debts owed to the government, and thus subject to offset.
In the past, this Court has followed the common practice of other courts in our district and directed payment of EAJA fees to counsel when an assignment of benefits was been included with the counsel's petition. See, e.g., Hagman v. Astrue, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1299 (M.D. Fla. 2007) (holding EAJA fees must be paid directly to Plaintiff's attorney when such request is made in the petition) ; Clopper v. Astrue, No. 3:08-cv-1055-J-TEM, 2010 WL 1911420 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2010) (granting request for payment of EAJA fees be made directly to attorney in accordance with the plaintiff's assignment of fees); Williams v. Comm. of Soc.Sec., No. 6:07-cv-212-ORL-KRS, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31366, at *2-3 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff); Stoykor-Adams v. Astrue, No. 8:06-cv-733-T-TBM, 2008 WL 508198, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 21, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff). Such practice, however, admittedly was permitted without the benefit of knowing whether or not the plaintiff as the prevailing party was responsible for debts owed to the government, and thus subject to offset.
In the past, this Court has followed the common practice of other courts in our district and directed payment of EAJA fees to counsel when an assignment of benefits was been included with the counsel's petition. See, e.g., Hagman v. Astrue, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1299 (M.D. Fla. 2007) (holding EAJA fees must be paid directly to Plaintiff's attorney when such request is made in the petition); Clopper v. Astrue, No. 3:08-cv-1055-J-TEM, 2010 WL 1911420 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2010) (granting request for payment of EAJA fees be made directly to attorney in accordance with the plaintiff's assignment of fees); Williams v. Comm. of Soc. Sec., No. 6:07-cv-212-ORL-KRS, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31366, at *2-3 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff); Stoykor-Adams v. Astrue, No. 8:06-cv-733-T-TBM, 2008 WL 508198, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 21, 2008) (ordering payment of EAJA fees directly to plaintiff's counsel pursuant to an assignment of such fees by plaintiff). Such practice, however, admittedly was permitted without the benefit of knowing whether or not the plaintiff as the prevailing party was responsible for debts owed to the government, and thus subject to offset.