Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00658/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00658-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Andre Lee Gurule
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

McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

DEBORAH LEE STACHEL, CSBN 230138

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

Ellinor R. Coder, SBN _____

Special Assistant United States Attorney

Assistant Regional Counsel

 Social Security Administration, Region IX

 160 Spear Street, Suite 800

 San Francisco, California 94105 

Tel: (415) 977-8955

Fax: (415) 744-0134

E-mail: ellinor.coder@ssa.gov

Attorneys for Defendant

Jonathan O. Peña, Esq.

CA Bar ID No.: 278044

Peña & Bromberg, PLC

2440 Tulare St., Ste. 320

Fresno, CA 93721

Telephone: 559-439-9700

Facsimile: 559-439-9700

info@jonathanpena.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, Andre Lee Gurule

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

ANDRE LEE GURULE,

Plaintiff,

v.

ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of 

Social Security,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:19-cv-00658-GSA

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR THE 

AWARD OF ATTORNEY FEES UNDER 

THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT 

(EAJA) (28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)

Case 1:19-cv-00658-GSA Document 19 Filed 01/22/20 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

TO THE HONORABLE GARY S. AUSTIN, MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THE 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT:

The Parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the Court’s approval, 

stipulate that Plaintiff be awarded attorney fees in the amount of TWO THOUSAND, 

SIX HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX DOLLARS AND 10/100, $2,696.10, 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. § 2412(d).

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 counsel, pursuant to the 

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

counsel, Jonathan O. Peña.

This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff’s request for 

EAJA fees and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of Defendant

under the EAJA. Payment of TWO THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX

DOLLARS AND 10/100, $2,696.10, in EAJA attorney fees shall constitute a complete 

release from, and bar to, any and all claims that Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s attorney, 

Case 1:19-cv-00658-GSA Document 19 Filed 01/22/20 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

Jonathan O. Peña, may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this 

action.

This award is without prejudice to the rights of Plaintiff’s attorney to seek Social 

Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause 

provisions of the EAJA. 

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: January 20, 2020 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña

JONATHAN O. PEÑA

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Dated: January 21, 2020 McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

DEBORAH LEE STACHEL

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

 By: _*_Ellinor R. Coder 

Ellinor R. Coder

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 

Attorneys for Defendant 

(*Permission to use electronic signature 

obtained via email on 01/21/2020)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 22, 2020 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-00658-GSA Document 19 Filed 01/22/20 Page 3 of 3