Opinion
21-cv-527-pp
04-29-2022
SUEELLEN LEDEN, Plaintiff, v. KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING STIPULATED MOTION FOR AWARD UNDER THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT (DKT. NO. 24)
HON. PAMELA PEPPER, Chief United States District Judge.
On April 28, 2022, the parties filed a stipulated motion, asking the court to enter an order awarding attorneys' fees and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act. Dkt. No. 24.
The court GRANTS the motion for award under the EAJA. Dkt. No. 24. The court ORDERS that the defendant shall pay to the plaintiff an award of attorneys' fees and expenses in the amount of $9, 755.13, in full satisfaction and settlement of any and all claims the plaintiff may have in this case under the EAJA. The court awards these fees and expenses to the plaintiff, not the plaintiff's attorney, and under Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010), the United States may offset the award to satisfy pre-existing debts that the litigant owes the United States.
If counsel for the parties verify that the plaintiff owes no pre-existing debt subject to offset, the defendant shall direct that the award be made payable to the plaintiff's attorney, pursuant to the EAJA assignment duly signed by the plaintiff and counsel.