Leach Olorunshola v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE DIVISION CIVIL CASE NO. 3:23-cv-00399-MR

KRYSTAL NOEL LEACH ) OLORUNSHOLA, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) O R D E R ) MARTIN O’MALLEY, ) Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) Defendant. ) ___________________________________ )

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Consent Motion for Fees Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) [Doc. 17]. The Plaintiff seeks an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $8,250.00 in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (“EAJA”). [Doc. 17]. The Plaintiff further seeks reimbursement of the $402.00 fee associated with filing this matter. [Id.]. The Commissioner consents to such award and reimbursement. [Id.]. In light of the Court’s prior remand of this matter, and in the absence of any contention by the Commissioner that his position was substantially justified or that special circumstances exist that would render an award of attorney’s fees unjust, the Court concludes that the Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees and expenses under the

EAJA. The Plaintiff requests that the EAJA award be paid directly to the Plaintiff’s counsel as the Plaintiff’s assignee. In support of this request, the

Plaintiff has submitted a fee agreement executed by the Plaintiff, pursuant to which the Plaintiff has agreed to assign any EAJA fee award in favor of counsel. [Doc. 18-1]. The Court finds that the Commissioner should accept this assignment of the awarded fees by the Plaintiff to counsel and upon

receipt of such assignment, the Commissioner will pay that award of fees directly to Plaintiff’s counsel, provided that it is shown that the Plaintiff does not owe any debt to the United States Government which is subject to offset.

See Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 286 (2010). IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that: (1) The Plaintiff’s Consent Motion [Doc. 17] is hereby GRANTED, and the Plaintiff is hereby awarded attorney’s fees and expenses

in the amount of Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($8,250.00), which sum is in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d); (2) Within thirty (80) days of the entry of this Order, or some other time as determined by the Court upon good cause shown, the Commissioner shall inform the Plaintiff's counsel whether the Plaintiff owes a debt to the Government by which this fee award

may be offset. Before any funds are disbursed to counsel, the Plaintiff's counsel shall provide a valid fee assignment to the Commissioner; (3) A total of Four Hundred and Two Dollars ($402.00) shall be reimbursed to the Plaintiff from the Treasury Judgment Fund

upon certification thereof by the Office of the United States Attorney to the Department of the Treasury; (4) In the event that past-due benefits are awarded on remand, the Plaintiff shall have sixty (60) days after being served with notice of the past-due benefits award to file for an award of fees pursuant to the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 406(b); and (5) No additional Petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) may be filed. Signed: August 1, 2024 IT |S SO ORDERED.

Martiff Reidinger Chief United States District Judge AS