Darden v. Dudek

• Court: District Court, E.D. North Carolina
• Decided: March 19, 2025
• Docket: 5:23-cv-00700
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

In the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Western Division Dennis Darden, Plaintiff, VS. Civil Action No. 5:23-cv-00700-D-KS Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant. Order

THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on the Plaintiff’s Consent Motion for Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) filed on 03/18/2025. Having reviewed the motion, supporting materials, memorandum in support, and the case file, the Court determines that Plaintiff should be awarded an attorney’s fee under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), in the amount of $5,750.00. IT IS ORDERED that the Plaintiff's Motion for Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) filed is GRANTED, to the extent that the

_ Court will award attorney fees in the amount of $5,750.00, and that under Comm’r of Soc. Sec. v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. --, 130 S. Ct. 2521 (2010), the fee award will first be subject to offset any debt Plaintiff may owe to the United States. The Commissioner will determine whether Plaintiff owes a debt to the United States. If so, the debt will be satisfied first, and if any funds remain, they will be made payable to Plaintiff and mailed to Plaintiff's counsel. If the United States Department of the Treasury reports to the Commissioner that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, in that case, the

government will exercise its discretion and honor an assignment of EAJA fees and

pay the awarded fees directly to Plaintiff's counsel. No additional petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) shall be filed. SO ORDERED. This the !%_ day of March, 2025.

Diver JAMES C. DEVER III United States District Judge