Opinion
1:20-cv-00609-HBK
09-30-2021
LENA ANN STONECIPHER, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS UNDER THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT
(Doc. No. 23)
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for attorney fees filed September 29, 2021. (Doc. No. 23). Plaintiff seeks attorney's fees in the amount of $2,600.00 and $400.00 in costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. (Id.).
On September 23, 2021, this Court granted the parties' Stipulation for Voluntary Remand pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and reversed and remanded the case to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. No. 21). The Clerk entered judgment in favor of Plaintiff the same day. (Doc. No. 22). Plaintiff, the prevailing party, now requests an award of fees. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a) & (d)(1)(A); Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d)(1); see 28 U.S.C. § 1920; cf. Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 300-02 (1993) (concluding that a party who wins a sentence-four remand order under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is a prevailing party).
The Commissioner stipulates to the requested relief. (Doc. No. 23 at 1). Before issuing the award of EAJA fees and costs, the United States Department of the Treasury will determine whether Plaintiff owes a debt to the government. (Id. at 2). If Plaintiff has no discernable federal debt, the government will accept Plaintiffs assignment of EAJA fees and pay the fees directly to Plaintiffs counsel, Lawrence D. Rohlfing. (Id.).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
1. Plaintiffs motion for attorney's fees (Doc. No. 23) is GRANTED.
2. Plaintiff is awarded fees and costs in the total amount of $3,000.00 (three thousand dollars). Unless the Department of Treasury determines Plaintiff owes a federal debt, the government must pay the fees to Plaintiffs counsel in accordance with Plaintiffs assignment of fees and subject to the terms of the stipulated motion.