Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00402/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00402-6/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Bernard Ward
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Jonathan O. Peña, counsel for Plaintiff Bernard Ward, seeks an award of attorney’s fees in the 

amount of $43,003.43, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). (Doc. 29.) The magistrate judge found the 

requested fees are reasonable based upon “the character of the representation, the result achieved, and 

the fee amounts awarded in similar cases.” (Doc. 32 at 3; see also id. at 1-3.) Therefore, the 

magistrate judge recommended the motion for fees be granted, payment be directed to Counsel, and 

Counsel be directed to refund the fees previously awarded to Plaintiff under the Equal Access to 

Justice Act. (Id. at 3-4.)

The Court served the Findings and Recommendations on the parties and notified them that any 

objections were due within 14 days. (Doc. 32 at 4.) The Court advised the parties that the “failure to 

file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal.” (Id., citing 

Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014).) Neither party filed objections, and the 

time to do so has passed. 

BERNARD WARD,

 Plaintiff,

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No.: 1:21-cv-0402 JLT GSA

ORDER ADOPTING IN FULL THE FINDINGS 

AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND GRANTING 

THE MOTION FOR ATTORNEY FEES 

PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)

(Docs. 29, 32)

Case 1:21-cv-00402-JLT-GSA Document 33 Filed 12/12/24 Page 1 of 2
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

According to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), this Court performed a de novo review of this case. Having 

carefully reviewed the matter, the Court concludes the Findings and Recommendations are supported 

by the record and proper analysis. Thus, the Court ORDERS:

1. The Findings and Recommendations dated November 11, 2024 (Doc. 32) are 

ADOPTED in full.

2. Counsel’s motion for attorney fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 406(b) (Doc. 29) is

GRANTED.

3. The funds SHALL be paid to counsel, Jonathan O. Peña, out of the funds withheld by 

the Social Security Administration, in the amount of $43,003.43.

4. After payment of fees, any remaining funds being held by the Administration SHALL 

be released to Plaintiff, Bernard Ward.

5. Counsel SHALL refund the previously awarded fees in the amount of $6,699.26 to 

Plaintiff.

6. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this Order on Plaintiff Barnard Ward, 

2412 E. Tulare Ave., Fresno, CA 93292. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 12, 2024 

Case 1:21-cv-00402-JLT-GSA Document 33 Filed 12/12/24 Page 2 of 2