Cooper v. Commissioner of Social Security

District Court, W.D. North Carolina

Cooper v. Commissioner of Social Security

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:23-CV-00625-KDB

SHAKEETA LASHELL COOPER,

Plaintiff,

v. ORDER

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on Plaintiff’s Petition for Attorney Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act

28 U.S.C. § 2412

(Doc. No. 11). Having reviewed the Motion, and for good cause shown, the Court will grant the relief requested. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Plaintiff’s Motion is GRANTED and the Court awards fees in the amount of $3,150.00. See

28 U.S.C. § 2412

(d). Under Comm’r of Soc. Sec. v. Ratliff,

560 U.S. 586

,

130 S. Ct. 2521

(2010), the fee award will first be subject to offset of any debt Plaintiff may owe to the United States. The Commissioner will determine whether Plaintiff owes a debt to the United States. If so, the debt will be satisfied first, and if any funds remain, they will be made payable to Plaintiff and mailed to Plaintiff’s counsel. If the United States Department of the Treasury reports to the Commissioner that the Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, the government will exercise its discretion and honor an assignment of EAJA fees and pay the awarded fees directly to Plaintiff’s counsel. No additional petition pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2412

(d) shall be filed. SO ORDERED. Signed: May 2, 2024

Kenneth D. Bell United States District Judge HOU

Reference

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