Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-02296/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-02296-5/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Eric Joseph Ramsey
Plaintiff

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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: 559-439-9723

Email: info@jonathanpena.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, Eric Joseph Ramsey

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

Eric Joseph Ramsey,

Plaintiff,

v.

Martin O’Malley1, Commissioner of 

Social Security,

Defendant.

Case No. 2:22-cv-02296-JDP

STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD 

AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY 

FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT 

TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO 

JUSTICE ACT; |PROPOSED| 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 EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED 

DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($8,500.00) 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. 

1 Martin O’Malley became the Commissioner of Social Security on December 

20, 2023. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Martin 

O’Malley should be substituted for Kilolo Kijakazi 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 2:22-cv-02296-JDP Document 26 Filed 01/16/24 Page 1 of 4
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§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).). Accordingly, should this Court award fees and expenses under 

EAJA pursuant to this stipulation, Plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees (ECF 24) would 

be moot.

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 and 

made payable to Plaintiff’s counsel, Jonathan O. Peña. Additionally, any payment of 

costs under 28 U.S.C. §1920 may be made either by electronic fund transfer (ETF) or 

by check.

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 

Counsel including Counsel’s firm may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in 

connection with this action. 

Case 2:22-cv-02296-JDP Document 26 Filed 01/16/24 Page 2 of 4
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This award is without prejudice to the rights of Counsel and/or Counsel’s firm 

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 11, 2024 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña

JONATHAN O. PEÑA

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Dated: January 11, 2024 PHILLIP A. TALBERT

United States Attorney

MATHEW W. PILE

Associate General Counsel

Office of Program Litigation

Social Security Administration

 By: _*_Marcelo N. Illarmo 

Marcelo N. Illarmo

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 

Attorneys for Defendant 

(*Permission to use electronic signature 

obtained via email on Jan. 11, 2024). 

Case 2:22-cv-02296-JDP Document 26 Filed 01/16/24 Page 3 of 4
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|PROPOSED| 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 EIGHT THOUSAND 

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($8,500.00) as authorized by 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, be awarded subject to the terms of the 

Stipulation. Plaintiff’s motion fort attorney fees (ECF 24) is denied as moot.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 16, 2024 

JEREMY D. PETERSON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:22-cv-02296-JDP Document 26 Filed 01/16/24 Page 4 of 4