Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01744/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01744-2/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN EDWARD FELIPE,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-01744-SKO

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 SHEILA K. OBERTO, 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 Steven Felipe be 

awarded attorney fees and expenses in the amount of three thousand four hundred

dollars ($3,400.00) 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. §§ 1920; 2412(d). 

After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Steven Felipe, the 

government will consider the matter of Steven Felipe's assignment of EAJA fees to 

Young Cho. 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 

Case 1:13-cv-01744-SKO Document 18 Filed 03/16/15 Page 1 of 3
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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 Steven Felipe, but if the Department of the 

Treasury determines that Steven Felipe 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 Steven Edward Felipe. 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).1 Any payments made 

shall be delivered to Young Cho.

This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Steven Felipe'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 Steven 

Edward Felipe 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 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.

Steven Felipe 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 1:13-cv-01744-SKO Document 18 Filed 03/16/15 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 12, 2015 Respectfully submitted,

 LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING

/s/ Young Cho

 BY: __________________

 Young Cho

 Attorney for plaintiff Steven Edward Felipe

DATE: March 12, 2015 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

 

/s/ Jean M. Turk

 

 Jean M. Turk

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, 

Acting Commissioner of Social Security 

 (Per e-mail authorization)

ORDER

Pursuant to the terms of the parties' stipulation, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED 

that Plaintiff is awarded attorney’s fees and expenses in the amount of $3,400.00

under the EAJA.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 16, 2015 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01744-SKO Document 18 Filed 03/16/15 Page 3 of 3