Opinion
CV-21-08132-PCT-JAT
10-28-2022
Jonathan Wallis, Plaintiff, v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, Defendant.
ORDER
James A. Teilborg, Senior United States District Judge
Pending before the Court is the parties' stipulation to an award of attorneys' fee under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). (Doc. 22).
“A litigant is entitled to attorneys' fees under the EAJA if: ‘(1) he is the prevailing party; (2) the government fails to show that its position was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust; and (3) the requested fees and costs are reasonable.' Carbonell v. I.N.S., 429 F.3d 894, 898 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Perez-Arellano v. Smith, 279 F.3d 791, 793 (9th Cir. 2002)); see also 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A).”Michele M. v. Saul, No. 19-CV-00272-JLB, 2020 WL 5203375, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 1, 2020).
Here, the totality of the parties' discussion regarding Plaintiff's entitlement to fees under the EAJA is: “[t]his stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff's request for EAJA attorney fees, and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of Defendant under the EAJA or otherwise.” (Doc. 22 at 2).
Previously, this Court remanded this case to the social security administration for further proceedings. (Doc. 20). Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff is the prevailing party.
Next, it is the government's burden to show that its position was substantially justified if it seeks to avoid an award of fees under the EAJA. Russell v. Sullivan, 930 F.2d 1443, 1445 (9th Cir. 1991). The government has failed to make this showing. Additionally, the Court is aware of no circumstances that would make an award of fees unjust.
Finally, the Court should award only reasonable fees. Here, the Court has not been provided with a billing statement. Thus, the Court does not know the rate charged or the hours expended. Nonetheless, the Court finds that the government, by the stipulation, has conceded that the amount of fees sought in this case are reasonable.
Plaintiff's counsel states in the stipulation that Plaintiff has signed an assignment of any award of fees to him. The Court has not been provided with a copy of the assignment. Nonetheless, the Court will accept Plaintiff's counsel's representation that such an assignment is available in his records for review if this representation is ever disputed.
Based on the foregoing, IT IS ORDERED granting the stipulation (Doc. 22) such that Plaintiff is awarded attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act in the amount of $7,000.00. No costs have been requested by Plaintiff and therefore none are awarded.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if, after receiving this Order, the Commissioner: (1) determines that Plaintiff does not owe a debt that is subject to offset under the Treasury Offset Program, and (2) agrees to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act, then the check for the fees awarded herein will be made payable to Plaintiff's attorney pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. However, if there is a debt owed under the Treasury Offset Program, the Commissioner cannot agree to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act, and any remaining Equal Access to Justice Act fees after offset will be paid by a check made out to Plaintiff but delivered to Plaintiff's attorney.
This award is without prejudice to Plaintiff seeking attorney fees under section 206(b) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA.