Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00120/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00120-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:416 Denial of Social Security Benefits

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BESS M. BREWER, #100364 

LAW OFFICE OF BESS M. BREWER 

P.O. Box 5088 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Telephone: (916) 385-7517 

bess.m.brewer@gmail.com 

Attorney for Plaintiff 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

NANCY ALMA RAETZ ) Case No. 14-120 EFB 

xxx-xx-7149 ) 

 )

) 

 ) 

 ) 

Plaintiff, ) 

 ) STIPULATION AND ORDER APPROVING 

 ) SETTLEMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 

v. ) PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO 

 ) JUSTICE ACT 

 ) 

CAROLYN W. COLVIN ) 

ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SSA, ) 

Defendant. ) 

 ) 

 ) 

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

counsel, subject to the Court’s approval, that Plaintiff be awarded attorney fees under the Equal 

Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), in the amount of FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT 

HUNDRED DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($4,800.00). 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. § 2412(d). After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees and expenses to 

Plaintiff, the government will consider the matter of Plaintiff’s assignment of EAJA fees and 

expenses to Plaintiff’s attorney. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff,130 S.Ct. 2521 (U.S. June 14, 2010), the 

ability to honor the assignment will depend on whether the fees and expenses are subject to any 

offset allowed under the United States Department of the Treasury’s Offset Program. After the order 

for EAJA fees and expenses is entered, the government will determine whether they are subject to 

Case 2:14-cv-00120-EFB Document 27 Filed 01/05/16 Page 1 of 3
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any offset. 

 Fees and expenses shall be made payable to Plaintiff, but if the Department of the Treasury 

determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of 

fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Bess M. Brewer, pursuant to the assignment executed 

by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to Plaintiff’s counsel. 

 This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff's request for EAJA attorney 

fees and expenses, and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of Defendant under 

the EAJA. Payment of the agreed amount shall constitute a complete release from, and bar to, any 

and all claims that Plaintiff and/or Plaintiff’s counsel may have relating to EAJA attorney fees and 

expenses in connection with this action. 

 This award is without prejudice to the rights of Plaintiff’s counsel to seek Social Security Act 

attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406, subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA. 

Dated: January 4, 2016 /s/Bess M. Brewer 

BESS M. BREWER 

 Attorney at Law 

 Attorney for Plaintiff 

Dated: January 4, 2016 Benjamin B. Wagner 

 United States Attorney 

 /s/ Patrick Snyder 

PATRICK SNYDER 

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant 

 

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ORDER 

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED that Plaintiff shall be awarded attorney 

fees in the amount of FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS 

($4,800.00), as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), subject to the terms of the above-referenced 

Stipulation. Further, defendant’s request for an extension of time to respond to plaintiff’s motion 

for attorney’s fees (ECF No. 25) is denied as moot. 

DATED: January 5, 2016. 

 _____________________________________ 

 HONORABLE EDMUND F. BRENNAN 

 U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:14-cv-00120-EFB Document 27 Filed 01/05/16 Page 3 of 3