Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02328/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02328-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Athena M. Nunez
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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Vijay J. Patel

Attorney at Law: 285585

Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing

12631 East Imperial Highway, Suite C-115

Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

Tel.: (562)868-5886

Fax: (562)868-8868

E-mail: rohlfing.office@rohlfinglaw.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Athena M. Nunez

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ATHENA M. NUNEZ,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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No. 2:13-cv-02328-DAD

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR THE 

AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY 

FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO 

THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 

28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)

TO THE HONORABLE DALE A. DROZD, MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THE 

DISTRICT COURT:

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

counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Athena M. Nunez be awarded attorney fees

and expenses in the amount of five thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars ($5,860.00) under 

the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). 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 2:13-cv-02328-DAD Document 23 Filed 06/03/15 Page 1 of 4
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After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Athena M. Nunez, the government will 

consider the matter of Athena M. Nunez's assignment of EAJA fees to Vijay J. Patel. The 

retainer agreement containing the assignment is attached as exhibit 1. Pursuant to Astrue v. 

Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2529 (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 Athena M. Nunez, but if the Department of the Treasury 

determines that Athena M. Nunez does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause 

the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Law Offices of Lawrence D. 

Rohlfing, pursuant to the assignment executed by Athena M. Nunez. United States v. 

$186,416.00, 722 F.3d 1173, 1176 (9th Cir. 2013) ($186,416.00 II) (ordering fees paid to 

counsel because of an assignment that did not interfere with a raised superior lien).

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 Any 

payments made shall be delivered to Vijay J. Patel.

This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Athena M. Nunez'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 Athena M. Nunez and/or Vijay J. Patel including Law 

 

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The Commissioner does not stipulate to the citation of $186,416.00 II, and will not participate 

in representing to this Court that it carries legal import in these proceedings. $186,416 II 

involved a different statute and very different factual circumstances than those presented here, or 

in other Social Security cases. Because the parties have agreed to the payment of EAJA fees, 

and the amount, and to avoid motion practice solely related to Plaintiff’s citation, the 

Commissioner agrees to this stipulation. The Commissioner reserves the right to challenge the 

applicability of $186,416 II to any Social Security case, and this Stipulation should not be 

construed as a waiver of such reservation.

Athena M. Nunez contends that U.S. v. $186,416.00 in U.S. Currency, 642 F.3d 753, 757 (9th 

Cir. 2011) ($186,416.00 I) held that there is no functional difference between the CAFRA and 

EAJA in terms of "ownership" of the fee.

Case 2:13-cv-02328-DAD Document 23 Filed 06/03/15 Page 2 of 4
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Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with 

this action. 

This award is without prejudice to the rights of Vijay J. Patel and/or the Law Offices of

Lawrence D. Rohlfing to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), 

subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.

DATE: June 2, 2015 Respectfully submitted,

 LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING

/s/ Vijay J. Patel

 BY: __________________

 Vijay J. Patel

 Attorney for plaintiff Athena M. Nunez

DATED: 

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

STEPHANIE YONEKURA

United States Attorney

 

/s/ Ben A. Porter

 

 Ben A. Porter

 Special Assistant United States Attorney 

 Attorneys for Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, 

Acting Commissioner of Social Security 

 (Per e-mail authorization)

Case 2:13-cv-02328-DAD Document 23 Filed 06/03/15 Page 3 of 4
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ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, IT IS SO ORDERED.2

Dated: June 2, 2015

Ddad1\orders.soc sec

nunez2328.stip.eaja.ord.docx

 

2 Although not attached to this order, the parties have filed a copy of exhibit 1 on the court’s 

docket. See Dkt. No. 22-1. 

Case 2:13-cv-02328-DAD Document 23 Filed 06/03/15 Page 4 of 4