(SS)Romero v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

PHILLIP A. TALBERT United States Attorney MATHEW W. PILE, WSBN 32245 Associate General Counsel Office of Program Litigation, Office 7 Social Security Administration SHANNON FISHEL, GSBN 376604 Special Assistant United States Attorney 6401 Security Boulevard Baltimore, Maryland 21235 Telephone: (404) 562-1076 E-Mail: Shannon.Fishel@ssa.gov Attorneys for Defendant ) Case No.: 1:22-cv-01337-SKO ) STIPULATION AND UNOPPOSED Plaintiff, ) MOTION FOR THE AWARD AND ) PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND vs. ) EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ) ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. Acting Commissioner of Social Security, ) § 2412(d); ORDER ) ) (Doc. 17) Defendant. ) ) 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 $8,400.00 (EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED dollars) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). 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. § 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, if any. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 598, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010), the ability to honor any 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, Francesco Benavides, pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to counsel. 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 or costs 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, Date: May 5, 2023 /s/ Francesco P. Benavides FRANCESCO P. BENAVIDES (as authorized by email on May 5, 2023) Attorney for Plaintiff

United States Attorney Associate General Counsel Social Security Administration /s/ Shannon Fishel Special Assistant United States Attorney Social Security Administration Attorney for Defendant Based upon the parties’ Stipulation and Unopposed Motion for the Award and Payment of Equal Access to Justice Act Fees, Costs, and Expenses (Doc. 17), IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of $8,400.00, as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2412, be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation. IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 5, 2023 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto . UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE