Timothy R. G. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS ROCK ISLAND DIVISION TIMOTHY R. G., Plaintiff, v. Case No. 4:25-cv-04164-RLH FRANK BISIGNANO, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.

ORDER Before the Court is the parties’ Joint Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).1 (Doc. 15). Upon review, the Court finds that the request is reasonable and otherwise complies with the EAJA. See Krecioch v. United States, 316 F.3d 684, 687 (7th Cir. 2003) (explaining that eligibility for EAJA fees requires that (1) the plaintiff was the “prevailing party”; (2) the government’s position was not “substantially justified”; (3) “no special circumstances make the award unjust”; and (4) the request is timely made). The Court therefore awards Plaintiff, Timothy R. G., attorneys’ fees in the amount of $6,651.00 (six thousand six hundred fifty-one dollars and zero cents),2 in full satisfaction of all claims that may be payable to Plaintiff in this matter under the EAJA.

1 The parties in this case have consented to a final disposition by a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636. (Doc. 10).

2 The parties’ proposed order mistakenly wrote this figure as “six thousand five hundred fifty one- dollars and zero cents.”

At the parties’ request, the Court notes that any fees paid belong to Plaintiff, not to Plaintiff’s attorney, and can be offset to satisfy any pre-existing debt Plaintiff owes the United States. See Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 589 (2010) (“We hold that a § 2412(d) fees award is payable to the litigant and is therefore subject to a government offset to satisfy a pre-existing debt that the litigant owes the United States.”). If Defendant can verify that Plaintiff does not owe a pre-existing debt to the United States that is subject to offset, Defendant shall direct that the award be made payable to KONOSKI & PARTNERS, P.C. under the EAJA assignment signed by Plaintiff. If that payment is mailed (as opposed to deposited electronically), it shall be mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel’s address of record: Konoski & Partners, P.C.

180 Tices Lane Suite 204, Bldg. A East Brunswick, NJ 08816 So ordered.

Entered this 17th day of April 2026.

s/ Ronald L. Hanna Ronald L. Hanna United States Magistrate Judge