Eddie Ray Arreola v. Frank J. Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Jonathan O. Peña, Esq.

2 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: [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiff, Eddie Ray Arreola 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA FRESNO DIVISION Eddie Ray Arreola, Case No. 1:25-cv-00402-SKO 13 Plaintiff, STIPULATION AND UNOPPOSED 14 MOTION FOR THE AWARD AND v. PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES 15 AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE Frank J. Bisignano1, EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT; COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL ORDER SECURITY, 18 (Doc. 24) Defendant.

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 and expenses in the amount of EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND 00/100 ($8,300.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. Frank J. Bisignano became the Commissioner of Social Security on May 7, 2025. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Frank J.

Bisignano should be substituted for Leland Dudek 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 § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of ZERO dollars ($0.00) under 28 U.S.C. §1920.

2 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).

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 Plaintiff’s attorney.

Under Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S. Ct. 2521, 2528-29 (2010), EAJA fees awarded by this Court belong to the Plaintiff and are subject to offset under the Treasury Offset Program (31 U.S.C. § 3716(c)(3)(B) (2006)). Any EAJA fees should therefore be awarded to Plaintiff and not to Plaintiff’s attorney. If, after receiving the Court’s EAJA fee order, the Commissioner (1) determines that Plaintiff has assigned his right to EAJA fees to his attorney; (2) determines that Plaintiff does not owe a debt that is subject to offset under the Treasury Offset Program, and (3) agrees to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act, then the EAJA fees will be made payable to Plaintiff’s attorney, JONATHAN O. PEÑA-MANCINAS at the firm, PEÑA & BROMBERG, PC.

19 However, if there is a debt owed under the Treasury Offset Program, the Commissioner cannot agree to waive the requirements of the Anti-Assignment Act, and the remaining EAJA fees after offset will be paid by a check or electronic fund transfer (EFT) made out to Plaintiff, but delivered to Plaintiff’s attorney, JONATHAN O. PEÑA- MANCINAS at the firm, PEÑA & BROMBERG, PC.

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.

3 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 5 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the offset provisions of the EAJA. See 28 U.S.C. § 6 2412(c)(1) (2006).

Respectfully submitted, Dated: December 29, 2025 /s/ Jonathan O. Peña 10 J ONATHAN O. PEÑA 11 Attorney for Plaintiff Dated: December 29, 2025 ERIC GRANT 13 United States Attorney 14 MATHEW W. PILE Head of Program Litigation 1 15 Law & Policy 16 Social Security Administration 17 By: _*_Marcelo N. Illarmo 18 Marcelo N. Illarmo Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 19 Attorneys for Defendant 20 (*Permission to use electronic signature obtained via email on December 29, 2025).

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. 24), IT IS ORDERED that fees and expenses in the amount of EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND 00/100 ($8,300.00) as authorized by the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 29, 2025 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE