Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-00714/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-00714-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Dawn Michele Thompson, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Carolyn W. Colvin, Commissioner of the

Social Security Administration,

Defendant. 

 

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No. CV-12-714-PHX-LOA

ORDER

This matter is before the Court on Defendant’s Motion for a Stay of Defendant’s

Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of EAJA Attorney Fees in Light of United States

Government Cessation. (Doc. 25) Defendant explains that, as a result of the Government’s

shutdown, “Department of Justice Attorneys and employees of the federal Social Security

Administration are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, ‘except for

emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.’” (Id. at 2)

(quoting 31 U.S.C. § 1342). Defendant, therefore, requests a stay of the deadline to respond

to Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of Attorney’s Fees, doc. 22. Plaintiff’s counsel has no

objection to the Motion.

The statute relied on by Defendant, 31 U.S.C. § 1342, states:

An officer or employee of the United States Government or of the District of

Columbia government may not accept voluntary services for either

government or employ personal services exceeding that authorized by law

Case 2:12-cv-00714-LOA Document 26 Filed 10/08/13 Page 1 of 2
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except for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of

property. This section does not apply to a corporation getting amounts to make

loans (except paid in capital amounts) without legal liability of the United

States Government. As used in this section, the term “emergencies involving

the safety of human life or the protection of property” does not include

ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not

imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.

In light of the lack of funding resulting from the Government’s shutdown and the

prohibition of non-essential governmental employees from performing voluntary services,

and absent any opposition, Defendant’s Motion will be granted. Defendant will be ordered

to notify the Court when funding resumes, upon which the Court will lift the stay and extend

the normal response time by the number of days the shutdown was in effect.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for a Stay of Defendant’s Response to

Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of EAJA Attorney Fees in Light of United States Government

Cessation, doc. 25, is GRANTED. Defendant’s Response is hereby STAYED pending the

resumption of funding for the Department of Justice and the Social Security Administration.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant shall notify this Court when funding

for the two agencies resumes, upon which the Court will issue an order to lift the stay and

extend the normal response time by the number of days the shutdown was in effect.

DATED this 8th day of October, 2013.

Case 2:12-cv-00714-LOA Document 26 Filed 10/08/13 Page 2 of 2