Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00580/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00580-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Michael Dale Ellorin
Plaintiff

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Jonathan O. Peña, Esq.

CA Bar ID No.: 278044

Peña & Bromberg, PLC

3467 W. Shaw Ave., Ste 100

Fresno, CA 93711

Telephone: 559-439-9700

Facsimile: 559-439-9723

Email: info@jonathanpena.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, Michael Dale Ellorin

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

Michael Dale Ellorin,

Plaintiff,

v.

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:24-cv-00580-SKO

STIPULATION AND UNOPPOSED 

MOTION FOR THE AWARD AND 

PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 

AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE 

EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; 

ORDER

(Doc. 17)

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 NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 

00/100 ($9,000.00) 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. §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).

Case 1:24-cv-00580-SKO Document 18 Filed 12/13/24 Page 1 of 3
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Plaintiff was the prevailing party in this matter and Plaintiff is an individual 

whose net worth does not exceed $2,000,000 at the time the civil action was filed. 

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 Jonathan O. Peña, 

Plaintiff’s 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 Jonathan O. Peña, 

pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. . Any payments may be made by a 

check or electronic fund transfer (EFT) and 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 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. 

The parties further agree that the EAJA award is without prejudice to the right of 

Plaintiff’s attorney to seek attorney fees pursuant to Social Security Act § 206(b), 42 

U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA. See 28 U.S.C. § 

2412(c)(1) (2006). 

Respectfully submitted,

Case 1:24-cv-00580-SKO Document 18 Filed 12/13/24 Page 2 of 3
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Dated: December 11, 2024 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña

JONATHAN O. PEÑA

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Dated: December 11, 2024 PHILLIP A. TALBERT

United States Attorney

MATHEW W. PILE

Associate General Counsel

Office of Program Litigation

Social Security Administration

 By: _*_Mary Tsai 

Mary Tsai

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 

Attorneys for Defendant 

(*Permission to use electronic signature 

obtained via email on December 11, 2024). 

ORDER

Based upon the parties’ Stipulation and Unopposed Motion for the Award and 

Payment of Equal Access to Justice Act Fees and Expenses (the “Stipulation”) (Doc. 

17),

IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of NINE THOUSAND 

DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($9,000.00) 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.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 12, 2024 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:24-cv-00580-SKO Document 18 Filed 12/13/24 Page 3 of 3