(SS) Uballe v. Commissioner of Social Security
(SS) Uballe v. Commissioner of Social Security
Trial Court Opinion
1 Jonathan O. Peña, Esq. 2 CA Bar ID No.: 278044 Peña & Bromberg, PLC 3 3467 W. Shaw Ave., Ste 100 4 Fresno, CA 93711 Telephone: 559-439-9700 5 Facsimile: 559-439-9723 6 Email: [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiff, Adalberto Uballe 7
8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA FRESNO DIVISION 11 12 Adalberto Uballe, Case No. 1:25-cv-00175-KES-GSA
13 Plaintiff, STIPULATION FOR THE AWARD 14 AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY v. FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT 15 TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO 16 COMMISIONER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ACT; ORDER SECURITY, 17 18 Defendant. 19 IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between the parties through their 20 undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Plaintiff be awarded 21 attorney fees and expenses in the amount of ONE THOUSAND SEVENTY DOLLARS 22 AND 32/100 ($1,070.32) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. 23 § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of four hundred and five dollars ($405.00) under 28
24 U.S.C. §1920. This amount represents compensation for all legal services rendered on 25 behalf of Plaintiff by counsel in connection with this civil action, in accordance with 28
26 U.S.C. §§ 1920, 2412(d). 27 1 Plaintiff was the prevailing party in this matter and Plaintiff is an individual 2 whose net worth does not exceed $2,000,000 at the time the civil action was filed. 3 After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Plaintiff, the government will 4 consider the matter of Plaintiff’s assignment of EAJA fees to Plaintiff’s attorney. 5 Under Astrue v. Ratliff,
130 S. Ct. 2521, 2528-29(2010), EAJA fees awarded by this 6 Court belong to the Plaintiff and are subject to offset under the Treasury Offset Program 7 (
31 U.S.C. § 3716(c)(3)(B) (2006)). Any EAJA fees should therefore be awarded to 8 Plaintiff and not to Plaintiff’s attorney. If, after receiving the Court’s EAJA fee order, 9 the Commissioner (1) determines that Plaintiff has assigned his right to EAJA fees to 10 his attorney; (2) determines that Plaintiff does not owe a debt that is subject to offset 11 under the Treasury Offset Program, and (3) agrees to waive the requirements of the 12 Anti-Assignment Act, then the EAJA fees will be made payable to Plaintiff’s attorney, 13 JONATHAN O. PEÑA-MANCINAS at the firm, PEÑA & BROMBERG, PC. 14 However, if there is a debt owed under the Treasury Offset Program, the Commissioner 15 16 cannot agree to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act, and the remaining 17 EAJA fees after offset will be paid by a check or electronic fund transfer (EFT) made 18 out to Plaintiff, but delivered to Plaintiff’s attorney, JONATHAN O. PEÑA- 19 MANCINAS at the firm, PEÑA & BROMBERG, PC. 20 This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Plaintiff’s request for 21 EAJA attorney fees, and does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of 22 Defendant under the EAJA or otherwise. Payment of the agreed amount shall constitute 23 a complete release from, and bar to, any and all claims that Plaintiff and/or Counsel 24 including Counsel’s firm may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with 25 this action. 26 The parties further agree that the EAJA award is without prejudice to the right of 27 Plaintiff’s attorney to seek attorney fees pursuant to Social Security Act § 206(b), 42
1 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA. See
28 U.S.C. § 22412(c)(1) (2006). 3 Respectfully submitted, 4
5 Dated: July 16, 2025 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña 6 J ONATHAN O. PEÑA Attorney for Plaintiff 7
8 Dated: July 16, 2025 MICHELLE BECKWITH 9 Acting United States Attorney MATHEW W. PILE 10 Associate General Counsel 11 Office of Program Litigation Social Security Administration 12
13 By: _*_Angela Thornton-Millard Angela Thornton-Millard 14 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 15 Attorneys for Defendant (*Permission to use electronic signature 16 obtained via email on July 16, 2025). 17
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19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 ORDER 2 3 Based upon the parties’ Stipulation for the Award and Payment of Equal Access 4 || to Justice Act Fees and Expenses (the “Stipulation’’), 5 IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of ONE THOUSAND 6 || SEVENTY DOLLARS AND 32/100 ($1,070.32) and costs in the amount of four 7 || hundred and five dollars ($405.00) under
28 U.S.C. §1920, as authorized by the Equal 8 || Access to Justice Act (EAJA),
28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), be awarded subject to the terms of 9 || the Stipulation. 10 11 || IS SO ORDERED. _ 12 Dated: _ July 17, 2025 4h . 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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