Pleasant v. Social Security Administration

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS CENTRAL DIVISION ROBERT PLEASANT PLAINTIFF Vv. Case No. 4:21-cv-01211-JTK SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DEFENDANT ORDER Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Robert Pleasant’s Application for Attorney’s Fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (““EAJA”). (Doc. No. 20) Mr. Pleasant requests a total of $4,298.85 (which includes $4,275.15 in fees and $23.70 in expenses). (Doc. No. 20) Defendant does not object to this award. (Doc. No. 21) After careful consideration, the Court finds that Mr. Pleasant should be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees. EAJA fees are payable to plaintiffs, not plaintiffs’ attorneys, and such fees are subject to an offset when a plaintiff has outstanding federal debts. See Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 589 (2010). Therefore, subject to any offset, payment by check to the order of Mr. Pleasant, in care of her attorney, will issue to her attorney. Accordingly, the Motion for Attorney’s Fees pursuant to the EAJA (Doc. No. 20) is GRANTED. Mr. Pleasant is awarded $4,298.85. SO ORDERED THIS 21st day of June, 2023.

JEROMET.KEARNEY UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE