(SS) Senstad v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

AMY SENSTAD, No. 2:23-cv-02930-DAD-DMC Plaintiff, v. ORDER ADOPTING THE PARTIES’ STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD OF COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL ATTORNEY’S FEES UNDER THE EQUAL SECURITY, ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT Defendant. (Doc. No. 21)

On December 15, 2023, plaintiff Amy Senstad filed this action seeking review of a final decision of defendant Commissioner of Social Security. (Doc. No. 1.) On June 25, 2025, the matter was remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings consistent with this court’s order. (Doc. No. 19.) On July 30, 2025, 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 $9,695.00. (Doc. No. 21.) Good cause appearing, and pursuant to the parties’ July 30, 2025 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 $9,695.00; 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, Christopher James Reichman; 3. Whether the payment of attorney’s fees is made payable to plaintiff or to her counsel, the check shall be mailed to plaintiff's counsel’s mailing address at: Christopher James Reichman Prato & Reichman, APC 3675 Ruffin Road Suite 220 San Diego, CA 92123 Dated: _ July 31, 2025 Da A. 2, eyel UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE