Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01374/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01374-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:416 Denial of Social Security Benefits

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Marc V. Kalagian

Attorney at Law: 149034

Law Offices of Rohlfing & Kalagian, LLP

211 East Ocean Boulevard, Suite 420

Long Beach, CA 90802

Tel.: (562)437-7006

Fax: (562)432-2935

E-mail: rohlfing.kalagian@rksslaw.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Kim R. Harmon

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KIM R. HARMON,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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No. 2:13-cv-01374 DAD

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 DALE A. DROZD, 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 Kim R. Harmon be 

awarded attorney fees and expenses 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), and costs in the amount of Four Hundred dollars ($400.00)

under 28 U.S.C. § 1920. This amount represents compensation for all legal 

Case 2:13-cv-01374-DAD Document 20 Filed 11/21/14 Page 1 of 5
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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 Kim R. Harmon, the 

government will consider the matter of Kim R. Harmon's assignment of EAJA fees 

to Marc V. Kalagian. 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 Kim R. Harmon, but if the Department of the 

Treasury determines that Kim R. Harmon 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 Rohlfing & Kalagian, LLP, pursuant to the assignment 

executed by Kim R. Harmon. 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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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. Kim R. Harmon 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 2:13-cv-01374-DAD Document 20 Filed 11/21/14 Page 2 of 5
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Any payments made shall be delivered to Marc V. Kalagian. This stipulation 

constitutes a compromise settlement of Kim R. Harmon'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 Kim R. 

Harmon and/or Marc V. Kalagian including Law Offices of Rohlfing & Kalagian, 

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

This award is without prejudice to the rights of Marc V. Kalagian and/or the 

Law Offices of Rohlfing & Kalagian, LLP to seek Social Security Act attorney 

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

EAJA.

DATE: November 20, 2014 Respectfully submitted,

 LAW OFFICES OF ROHLFING & KALAGIAN, LLP

/s/ Marc V. Kalagian

 BY: __________________

 Marc V. Kalagian

 Attorney for plaintiff Kim R. Harmon

DATED: November 20, 2014 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

 

 

/s/ Paul Sachelari

 BY: 

 Paul Sachelari

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, 

Acting Commissioner of Social Security 

 (Per e-mail authorization)

Case 2:13-cv-01374-DAD Document 20 Filed 11/21/14 Page 3 of 5
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ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, IT IS SO ORDERED

Dated: November 20, 2014

Ddad1\orders.soc sec

harmon1374.stip.EAJA.ord.docx

Case 2:13-cv-01374-DAD Document 20 Filed 11/21/14 Page 4 of 5
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Case 2:13-cv-01374-DAD Document 20 Filed 11/21/14 Page 5 of 5