Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00455/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00455-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Johanna Isabel Romo
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Jonathan O. Peña, Esq.

CA Bar ID No.: 278044

Peña & Bromberg, PLC

3467 W. Shaw Ave., Ste 100

Fresno, CA 93711

Telephone: 559-439-9700

Facsimile: 559-439-9723

Email: info@jonathanpena.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, Johanna Isabel Romo

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

Johanna Isabel Romo,

Plaintiff,

v.

Carolyn Colvin1, COMMISIONER 

OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:24-cv-00455-JLT-GSA

STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD 

AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY 

FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT 

TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO 

JUSTICE ACT; ORDER

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between the parties through their 

undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Plaintiff be awarded 

attorney fees and expenses in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE-HUNDRED 

00/100 ($7,500.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), 

and costs in the amount of ZERO dollars ($0.00) under 28 U.S.C. §1920. This amount 

1 Carolyn Colvin became the Commissioner of Social Security on November 30, 

2024. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Carolyn Colvin 

should be substituted for Martin O’Malley as the defendant in this suit. No further 

action need be taken to continue this suit by reason of the last sentence of section 

205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

Case 1:24-cv-00455-JLT-GSA Document 23 Filed 12/19/24 Page 1 of 3
-2-

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

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).

Plaintiff was the prevailing party in this matter and Plaintiff is an individual 

whose net worth does not exceed $2,000,000 at the time the civil action was filed. 

After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Plaintiff, the government will 

consider the matter of Plaintiff’s assignment of EAJA fees to counsel. Pursuant to 

Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 598, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (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 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 Jonathan O. Peña, 

pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be 

delivered to Jonathan O. Peña and may be paid by a check or electronic fund transfer 

(ETF).This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff’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 Plaintiff and/or Jonathan O. 

Peña, including Peña & Bromberg, PLC, may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in 

connection with this action. 

The parties further agree that the EAJA award is without prejudice to the right of 

Plaintiff’s attorney to seek attorney fees pursuant to Social Security Act § 206(b), 42 

U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA. See 28 U.S.C. § 

2412(c)(1) (2006). 

Case 1:24-cv-00455-JLT-GSA Document 23 Filed 12/19/24 Page 2 of 3
-3-

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: December 18, 2024 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña

JONATHAN O. PEÑA

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Dated: December 18, 2024 PHILLIP A. TALBERT

United States Attorney

MATHEW W. PILE

Associate General Counsel

Office of Program Litigation

Social Security Administration

 By: _*_Mary Tsai 

Mary Tsai

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 

Attorneys for Defendant 

(*Permission to use electronic signature 

obtained via email on December 18, 2024). 

ORDER

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

to Justice Act Fees and Expenses (the “Stipulation”), 

IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND

FIVE-HUNDRED 00/100 ($7,500.00) as authorized by the Equal Access to Justice Act 

(EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 18, 2024 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:24-cv-00455-JLT-GSA Document 23 Filed 12/19/24 Page 3 of 3