Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01383/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01383-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Brandon Anthony Gotterson
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRANDON ANTHONY GOTTERSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL 

SECURITY,

Defendant.

No. 1:22-cv-01383-DC-HBK

ORDER ADOPTING THE PARTIES’ 

STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD OF 

ATTORNEY’S FEES UNDER THE EQUAL 

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

(Doc. No. 25)

On October 26, 2022, Plaintiff Brandon Anthony Gotterson filed this action seeking 

review of a final decision of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security. (Doc. No. 1.) On 

October 2, 2024, the matter was remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for further 

proceedings pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. No. 22.) On January 2, 2025, the parties filed a 

stipulation with the court in which the parties agree that Plaintiff shall be awarded attorney’s fees 

and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), in the 

amount of $7,297.50.

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(Doc. No. 25.)

Good cause appearing, and pursuant to the parties’ January 2, 2025 stipulation, the court 

1 The court notes the “itemization of time” Plaintiff concurrently filed with the pending 

stipulation states the total requested amount of attorneys’ fees as $8,031.25. (Doc. No. 25-2 at 1.) 

However, the parties’ stipulation provides for an award amount of $7,297.50, and the parties’ 

proposed order likewise states the award amount of $7,297.50. (Doc. No. 25 at 1, 4.) Thus, the 

court will award the agreed-upon amount of $7,297.50 in attorney’s fees and expenses.

Case 1:22-cv-01383-DC-HBK Document 26 Filed 01/03/25 Page 1 of 2
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orders as follows:

1. Pursuant to the EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), Plaintiff is awarded attorney’s fees

and expenses in the amount of $7,297.50;

2. After the issuance of this order, the government shall consider the assignment of 

the EAJA attorney’s fees to Plaintiff’s counsel;

a. Pursuant to the decision in Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010), any such 

assignment will depend on whether the attorney’s fees are subject to any 

offset allowed under the United States Department of Treasury’s (“the 

DOT”) Offset Program;

b. Fees shall be made payable to Plaintiff, but if the DOT determines that 

Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the 

payment of attorney’s fees to be made directly to Plaintiff’s counsel, 

Jonathan O. Peña;

3. Whether the payment of attorney’s fees is made payable to Plaintiff or to his 

counsel, the check will be mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel’s mailing address at: 

Jonathan O. Peña

Peña & Bromberg, PC

3467 W. Shaw Ave.

Suite 100

Fresno, CA 93711

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 2, 2025 ___________________________

Dena Coggins

United States District Judge

Case 1:22-cv-01383-DC-HBK Document 26 Filed 01/03/25 Page 2 of 2