Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01491/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01491-2/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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Brian C. Shapiro

Attorney at Law: 192789

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

Frank Martinez

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRANK MARTINEZ,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-01491-BAM

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

AWARDING PAYMENT OF 

ATTORNEY FEES PURSUANT TO 

THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE 

ACT, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)

TO THE HONORABLE BARBARA A. MCALUIFFE, 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 Frank Martinez be 

awarded attorney fees and expenses in the amount of THREE THOUSAND TWO 

HUNDRED dollars ($3,200) 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). 

Case 1:13-cv-01491-BAM Document 18 Filed 05/01/15 Page 1 of 4
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After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Frank Martinez, the 

government will consider the matter of Frank Martinez's assignment of EAJA fees 

to Brian C. Shapiro. 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 Frank Martinez, but if the Department of the 

Treasury determines that Frank Martinez 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 Frank Martinez. 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 Brian C. Shapiro.

 

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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.

Frank Martinez 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-01491-BAM Document 18 Filed 05/01/15 Page 2 of 4
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This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Frank Martinez'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 Frank 

Martinez and/or Brian C. Shapiro including Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing

may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action. 

This award is without prejudice to the rights of Brian C. Shapiro 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: April 23, 2015 Respectfully submitted,

 LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING

/s/ Brian C. Shapiro

 BY: __________________

 Brian C. Shapiro

 Attorney for plaintiff Frank Martinez

DATED: April 23, 2015 

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

DONNA L. CALVERT

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

/s/ Lynn M. Harada

 

 Lynn M. Harada

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, 

Acting Commissioner of Social Security 

 (Per e-mail authorization)

Case 1:13-cv-01491-BAM Document 18 Filed 05/01/15 Page 3 of 4
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ORDER

Based upon the parties’ Stipulation for the Award and Payment of Equal 

Access to Justice Act Fees and Expenses filed on April 23, 2015 (Doc. 17) (“the 

Stipulation”), IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of $3,200.00 

as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2412, be awarded subject to the terms of the 

Stipulation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 1, 2015 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01491-BAM Document 18 Filed 05/01/15 Page 4 of 4