(SS) Le v. Commissioner of Social Security

PHILLIP A. TALBERT Acting United States Attorney DEBORAH LEE STACHEL Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration MARCELO ILLARMO (MABN 670079) Special Assistant United States Attorney 5 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, California 94105 6 Telephone: (510) 970-4822 Facsimile: (415) 744-0134 E-Mail: [email protected] Attorneys for Defendant 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA HOANG TRONG LE, ) No. 2:19-cv-00751-DMC ) Plaintiff, ) STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD AND 14 ) PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND v. ) EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL 15 ) ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. § KILOLO KIJAKAZI, 1 ) 2412(d), AND COSTS PURSUANT TO Commissioner of Social Security, ) 28 U.S.C. § 1920 17 ) Defendant. ) 18 ) 20 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 in the amount of six thousand twenty two dollars and forty five cents ($6,022.45) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and no costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1920. This Kilolo Kijakazi became the Acting Commissioner of Social Security on July 9, 2021. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Kilolo Kijakazi should be substituted, therefore, for Andrew Saul as the defendant in this suit. No further action need be taken to continue this suit by reason of the last sentence of section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

1 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).

3 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 Jesse Kaplan. 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.

9 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 Jesse Kaplan, pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to Jesse Kaplan.

13 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 Jesse Kaplan, including his firm, may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action.

18 This award is without prejudice to the rights of Jesse Kaplan to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.

1 Respectfully submitted, || Dated: July 13, 2021 3 By: /s/ Jesse Kaplan* 4 JESSE KAPLAN * By email authorization on 7/7/21 5 Attorneys for Plaintiff Dated: July13, 2021 PHILLIP A. TALBERT Acting United States Attorney By: /s/Marcelo Illarmo 9 MARCELO ILLARMO 10 Special Assistant United States Attorney 1] 14 Based upon the parties’ Stipulation for the Award and Payment of Equal Access to Justice Act Fees, Costs, and Expenses, IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of $ 6,022.45 as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2412, and costs in the amount of $0.00 as authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 1920, be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation.

20 DENNIS M. COTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE