Behnke v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 3

4 PAULA M. BEHNKE, ) 5 ) CIVIL NO. 2:23-cv-1014-RSM Plaintiff, ) 6 ) ORDER FOR FEES UNDER THE vs. ) EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 7 ) U.S.C. § 2412(d) COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, ) 8 ) Defendant. ) 9 10 11 Having considered Plaintiff’s unopposed Motion for EAJA fees, Dkt. #19, it is hereby 12 ORDERED that fees in the amount of $8,161.93 shall be awarded to Plaintiff pursuant to the Equal 13 Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). Attorney and paralegal fees in the amount of $8,161.93 14 will be paid to Plaintiff’s attorney, subject to verification that Plaintiff does not have a debt which 15 qualifies for offset against the awarded fees, pursuant to the Treasury Offset Program as discussed 16 in Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010). If Plaintiff has no such debt, then the check shall be 17 made out to Plaintiff’s attorney. If Plaintiff has a debt, then the check for any remaining funds 18 after offset of the debt shall be made out to Plaintiff and mailed to Plaintiff’s attorney. 19 IT IS SO ORDERED. 20 DATED this 2nd day of August, 2024. 21 A 22 RICARDO S. MARTINEZ 23 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 24 25