Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01973/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01973-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Kandis Shuntae Ballard
Plaintiff
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant

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AMENDED STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 

AND EXPENSES PURUSANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; ORDER - 1

MARGARET LEHRKIND

SBCA # 314717

Lehrkind Law Office, P.C.

2625 Alcatraz Ave, # 208

Berkeley, CA 94705

Tel: 510-590-1907

Margaret@LehrkindLawOffice.com

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KANDIS SHUNTAE BALLARD,

Plaintiff,

vs.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant

CASE NO.: 2:24-cv-01973-CSK

AMENDED STIPULATION FOR THE 

AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY 

FEES AND EXPENSES PURUSANT TO 

THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; 

ORDER

The parties, through their respective counsel, hereby agree that attorney fees in the 

amount of $8,000 shall be awarded to Plaintiff pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 

U.S.C. § 2412 and costs of $0, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1920. 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. §§ 1920; 2412(d). Such attorney fees shall be 

subject to verification that Plaintiff has no debt which qualifies for offset, pursuant to the 

Treasury Offset Program as discussed in Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S. Ct. 2521 (2010).

If the U.S. Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff’s EAJA fees are not 

subject to any offset allowed under the Department of the Treasury’s Offset Program, then the 

Case 2:24-cv-01973-CSK Document 18 Filed 12/23/24 Page 1 of 3
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AMENDED STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 

AND EXPENSES PURUSANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; ORDER - 2

check or electronic funds transfer for EAJA fees shall be made payable to Plaintiff’s attorney, 

Margaret Lehrkind, based upon Plaintiff’s assignment of these amounts to her. See Exhibit –

Retainer Agreement. If Plaintiff has a debt, then any remaining funds after offset shall be made 

payable to Plaintiff and mailed to counsel’s address.

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 or otherwise. 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, 

including Lehrkind Law Office, P.C., 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.

DATE: December 6, 2024 Respectfully submitted,

Lehrkind Law Office, P.C.

By: /s/ Margaret Lehrkind

Margaret Lehrkind

Attorney for Plaintiff 

DATE:December 6, 2024 By: /s/ Mary Tsai *

MARY TSAI

*As authorized via email on 12/6/24

Special Assistant United States Attorney

Attorney for Defendant

Case 2:24-cv-01973-CSK Document 18 Filed 12/23/24 Page 2 of 3
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AMENDED STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 

AND EXPENSES PURUSANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; ORDER - 3

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Based upon the parties’ Amended 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 EIGHT THOUSAND

DOLLARS and 00/100 ($8,000) 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.

In light of this Amended Stipulation, the first Stipulation filed for EAJA fees will be 

denied as moot. (ECF No. 16.)

DATE: December 23, 2024 ________________________________

HONORABLE CHI SOO KIM

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

5, ball.1973.24

Case 2:24-cv-01973-CSK Document 18 Filed 12/23/24 Page 3 of 3