Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00533/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00533-5/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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Steven G. Rosales

Attorney at Law: 222224

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

Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KAREN AGATHA COOPER-BELANGER,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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No. 2:14-cv-00533-KJN (TEMP)

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 KENDALL J. NEWMAN, 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 Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger be awarded 

attorney fees and expenses in the amount of THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED dollars 

($3,700.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and costs in the 

amount of four hundred dollars ($400.00) under 28 U.S.C. § 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). 

Case 2:14-cv-00533-KJN Document 24 Filed 02/11/16 Page 1 of 4
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After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger, the 

government will consider the matter of Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger's assignment of EAJA 

fees to Steven G. Rosales. 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 Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger, but if the Department of 

the Treasury determines that Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger 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 Karen Agatha CooperBelanger. United States v. $186,416.00, 722 F.3d 1173, 1176 (9th Cir. 2013) ($186,416.00 II)

(ordering fees paid to counsel because of an assignment that did not interfere with a raised 

superior lien).

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 Any payments made shall be delivered to Steven G. Rosales.

This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger'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 Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger and/or 

Steven G. Rosales including Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing may have relating to EAJA 

attorney fees in connection with this action. 

 

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The Commissioner does not stipulate to the citation of $186,416.00 II, and will not participate 

in representing to this Court that it carries legal import in these proceedings. $186,416 II 

involved a different statute and very different factual circumstances than those presented here, or 

in other Social Security cases. Because the parties have agreed to the payment of EAJA fees, 

and the amount, and to avoid motion practice solely related to Plaintiff’s citation, the 

Commissioner agrees to this stipulation. The Commissioner reserves the right to challenge the 

applicability of $186,416 II to any Social Security case, and this Stipulation should not be 

construed as a waiver of such reservation. Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger contends that U.S. v. 

$186,416.00 in U.S. Currency, 642 F.3d 753, 757 (9th Cir. 2011) ($186,416.00 I) held that there 

is no functional difference between the CAFRA and EAJA in terms of "ownership" of the fee.

Case 2:14-cv-00533-KJN Document 24 Filed 02/11/16 Page 2 of 4
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This award is without prejudice to the rights of Steven G. Rosales 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: December 17, 2015 Respectfully submitted,

 LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING

/s/ Steven G. Rosales

 BY: __________________

 Steven G. Rosales

 Attorney for plaintiff Karen Agatha Cooper-Belanger

DATED: February 1, 2016 EILEEN M. DECKER

 United States Attorney

 LEON W. WEIDMAN

 Chief, Civil Division

Assistant United States Attorney 

 /s/ Jeffrey T. Chen

 

 Jeffrey T. Chen

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, 

Acting Commissioner of Social Security 

 (Per e-mail authorization)

Case 2:14-cv-00533-KJN Document 24 Filed 02/11/16 Page 3 of 4
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ORDER

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

Dated: 02/11/16

Case 2:14-cv-00533-KJN Document 24 Filed 02/11/16 Page 4 of 4