(SS) Jennie Marie Looney v. Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JENNIE MARIE LOONEY, Case No. 1:20-cv-00401-HBK

Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS v. UNDER THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

COMMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL

SECURITY, (Doc. No. 26)

Defendant.

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees filed August 17, 2021. (Doc. No. 26). Plaintiff seeks attorney’s fees in the amount of $8,500.00 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. (Id.).

On May 21, 2021, this Court granted the parties’ Stipulation for Voluntary Remand pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and reversed and remanded the case to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. No. 24). The Clerk entered judgment in favor of Plaintiff the same day. (Doc. No. 25). Plaintiff, the prevailing party, now requests an award of fees. See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a) & (d)(1)(A); Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1); see 28 25 U.S.C. § 1920; cf. Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 300-02 (1993) (concluding that a party who wins a sentence-four remand order under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is a prevailing party).

The Commissioner stipulates to the requested relief. (Doc. No. 26). After issuance of an order awarding EAJA fees and costs, however, the United States Department of the Treasury will determine whether Plaintiff owes a debt to the government. If Plaintiff has no discernable federal debt, the government will accept Plaintiff's assignment of EAJA fees and pay the fees directly to Plaintiff's counsel.

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

1. Plaintiffs motion for attorney’s fees (Doc. No. 26) is GRANTED.

2. Plaintiff is awarded fees in the amount of $8,500.00 (eight thousand five hundred dollars). Unless the Department of Treasury determines Plaintiff owes a federal debt, the government must pay the fees to Plaintiff's counsel in accordance with Plaintiffs assignment of fees and subject to the terms of the stipulated motion.

| Dated: _ August 18, 2021 Mihaw. □□□ foareh Yack HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE