Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01042/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01042-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:205 Denial Social Security Benefits

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Young Cho 

Attorney at Law: 189870 

Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing 

12631 East Imperial Highway, Suite C-115 

Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 

Tel.: (562) 868-5886 

Fax: (562) 868-8868 

E-mail: rohlfing.office@rohlfinglaw.com 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Shelly Rae Valeika 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SHELLY RAE VALEIKA, 

 Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

ANDREW SAUL, 

Commissioner of Social Security, 

 Defendant. 

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No.: 2:19-cv-01042-DB 

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR 

THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF 

ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES 

PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL 

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2412(d) AND COSTS PURSUANT 

TO 28 U.S.C. § 1920 

 TO THE HONORABLE DEBORAH BARNES, MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

OF THE DISTRICT COURT: 

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their 

undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Shelly Rae Valeika 

be awarded attorney fees in the amount of three thousand three hundred dollars 

($3,300.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). 

Case 2:19-cv-01042-DB Document 20 Filed 03/25/20 Page 1 of 3
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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 Valeika, the government 

will consider the matter of Valeika's assignment of EAJA fees to Young Cho. The 

retainer agreement containing the assignment is attached as exhibit 1. Pursuant to 

Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2529 (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 Valeika, but if the Department of the 

Treasury determines that Valeika does not owe a federal debt, then the government 

shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Law 

Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, pursuant to the assignment executed by Valeika.1

 

Any payments made shall be delivered to Young Cho.

 This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Valeika'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 Valeika 

and/or Young Cho including Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing may have 

relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action. 

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 The parties do not stipulate whether counsel for the plaintiff has a cognizable lien 

under federal law against the recovery of EAJA fees that survives the Treasury 

Offset Program. 

Case 2:19-cv-01042-DB Document 20 Filed 03/25/20 Page 2 of 3
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This award is without prejudice to the rights of Young Cho and/or the Law 

Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 

42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA. 

DATE: March 23, 2020 Respectfully submitted, 

 LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING 

 /s/ Young Cho 

 BY: __________________ Young Cho Attorney for plaintiff Shelly Rae Valeika 

DATED: March 23, 2020 McGREGOR W. SCOTT 

 United States Attorney 

 

 /s/ Marcelo N. Illarmo

 MARCELO N. ILLARMO Special Assistant United States Attorney Attorneys for Defendant 

ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of Social 

Security (Per e-mail authorization) 

ORDER 

 Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: March 24, 2020 /s/ DEBORAH BARNES 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

 

Case 2:19-cv-01042-DB Document 20 Filed 03/25/20 Page 3 of 3