(SS) Lockhart v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

GARY G. LOCKHART, No. 1:20-cv-01336-DAD-EPG Plaintiff, v. ORDER GIVING EFFECT TO STIPULATION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of Social UNDER THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSICE Security, ACT Defendant. (Doc. No. 19)

On June 15, 2021, plaintiff Gary G. Lockhart filed this action seeking review of a final decision of defendant Andrew M. Saul, the Commissioner of Social Security. (Doc. No. 1.) On May 14, 2021, the matter was remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. No. 17.) On June 15, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation with the court in which the parties agree that plaintiff shall be awarded attorney’s fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), in the amount of $1,412.90. (Doc. No. 19.) Good cause appearing, and pursuant to the parties’ June 15, 2021 stipulation, the court orders as follows: 1. Pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), plaintiff is awarded attorney’s fees in the amount of $1,412.90; 2. After the issuance of this order, the government shall consider the assignment of the EAJA attorney’s fees to plaintiff's counsel; a. Pursuant to the decision in Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010), any such assignment will depend on whether the attorney’s fees are subject to any offset allowed under the United States Department of Treasury’s (“the DOT”) Offset Program; b. Fees shall be made payable to plaintiff, but if the DOT determines that plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of attorney’s fees to be made directly to plaintiff's counsel, Jacqueline A. Forslund; 3. Whether the payment of attorney’s fees is made payable to plaintiff or to his counsel, the check will be mailed to plaintiff's counsel’s mailing address at: Jacqueline A. Forslund Forslund Law, LLC P.O. Box 4476 Sunriver, OR 97707 IT IS SO ORDERED. ame \ ws, ii A, A So Dated: _ June 16, 2021 Hee UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE