Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00709/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00709-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Donald Higgins
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

LUCILLE GONZALES MEIS

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

DANIEL P. TALBERT

Special Assistant United States Attorney

333 Market Street, Suite 1500

San Francisco, California 94105

Telephone: (415) 977-8926

Facsimile: (415) 744-0134

E-Mail: Daniel.Talbert@ssa.gov

Attorneys for Defendant

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

DONALD HIGGINS, ) Case No. 1:09-CV-00709-GSA

Plaintiff, )

v. ) STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, ) THE AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES

Commissioner of Social Security, ) PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO

Defendant. ) JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)

______________________________)

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between the parties through their undersigned

counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that the previously filed Equal Access to Justice Act

(EAJA) application is hereby withdrawn.

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 under the

Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), in the amount of FOUR THOUSAND

DOLLARS AND 00 CENTS ($4,000.00). 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).

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Case 1:09-cv-00709-GSA Document 20 Filed 07/28/10 Page 1 of 3
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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 Plaintiff's attorney. Pursuant to Astrue v.

Ratliff, - S.Ct. - , 2010 WL 2346547 (U.S. June 14, 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 Henry F. Reynolds, pursuant to the assignment executed

by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to Plaintiff's counsel.

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. 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 may have relating to EAJA attorney fees 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 provisions of the EAJA.

Stip. & Prop. Order for Attorney’s Fees 2

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Respectfully submitted July 22, 2010.

Dated: July 22, 2010 s/ Henry F. Reynolds 

(As authorized by email)

HENRY F. REYNOLDS

Attorney for Plaintiff Donald Higgins

Date: July 22, 2010 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

 By s/ Daniel P. Talbert 

DANIEL P. TALBERT

Special Assistant U. S. Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant

ORDER

Having considered the agreement of the parties, the Court hereby adopts the stipulation.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: July 27, 2010 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

6i0kij UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Stip. & Prop. Order for Attorney’s Fees 3

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