(SS) Sidhu v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

Jonathan O. Peña, Esq. CA Bar ID No.: 278044 Peña & Bromberg, PLC 3467 W. Shaw Ave., Ste 100 Fresno, CA 93711 Telephone: 559-439-9700 Facsimile: 559-439-9723 Email: info@jonathanpena.com Attorney for Plaintiff, Kulwant Singh Sidhu

FRESNO DIVISION Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Case No. 1:23-cv-01358-SKO

Plaintiff, STIPULATION AND UNOPPOSED v. PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE Martin O’Malley1, Commissioner of EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; Social Security, ORDER Defendant. (Doc. 16)

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between the parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Plaintiff be awarded attorney fees and expenses in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($7,500.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of ZERO dollars ($0.00) under 28 U.S.C. 1 Martin O’Malley became the Commissioner of Social Security on December 20, 2023. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Martin O’Malley should be substituted for Kilolo Kijakazi as the defendant in this suit. No further action need be taken to continue this suit by reason of the last sentence of section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). §1920. This amount represents compensation for all legal services rendered on behalf of Plaintiff by counsel in connection with this civil action, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 1920, 2412(d). After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Plaintiff, the government will consider the matter of Plaintiff’s assignment of EAJA fees to counsel. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 598, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010), the ability to honor the assignment will depend on whether the fees are subject to any offset allowed under the United States Department of the Treasury’s Offset Program. After the order for EAJA fees is entered, the government will determine whether they are subject to any offset. Fees shall be made payable to Plaintiff, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Counsel, pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered and made payable to Plaintiff’s counsel, Jonathan O. Peña. Additionally, any payment of costs under 28 U.S.C. §1920 may be made either by electronic fund transfer (EFT) or by check. This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff’s request for EAJA attorney fees, and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of Defendant under the EAJA or otherwise. Payment of the agreed amount shall constitute a complete release from, and bar to, any and all claims that Plaintiff and/or Counsel including Counsel’s firm may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action. This award is without prejudice to the rights of Counsel and/or Counsel’s firm to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA. Respectfully submitted,

Dated: August 22, 2024 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña J ONATHAN O. PEÑA Attorney for Plaintiff

Dated: August 22, 2024 PHILLIP A. TALBERT United States Attorney MATHEW W. PILE Associate General Counsel Office of Program Litigation Social Security Administration By: _*_David Priddy David Priddy Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Attorneys for Defendant (*Permission to use electronic signature obtained via email on August 22, 2024). Based upon the parties’ Stipulation and Unopposed Motion for the Award and Payment of Equal Access to Justice Act Fees and Expenses (the “Stipulation”) (Doc. 26), IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($7,500.00) as authorized by the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) and costs in the amount of ZERO dollars ($0.00) under 28 U.S.C. §1920, be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation.

Dated: August 23, 2024 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto . UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE