Sehmel v. Commissioner of Social Security

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RICHARD A. JONES

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE BRADLEY J. SEHMEL, ) 11 ) CIVIL NO. 3:20-cv-05328-RAJ Plaintiff, ) ) ORDER 13 vs. ) ) COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, ) ) Defendant ) 16 ) This matter comes before the Court on the parties’ stipulated motion for attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412 20 The motion is timely as Plaintiff had a 60-day appeal period, plus the 30-day period in §2412(d)(1)(B), from the entry of final judgment on December 1, 2020 to file a timely EAJA application. Akopyan v. Barnhart, 296 F.3d 852 (9th Cir. 2002); Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89, 94-96 (1991); FED. R. App. P. 4(a). Furthermore, upon review of the stipulation and the record, the Court determines that Plaintiff is the prevailing David Oliver & Associates 2608 South 47th Street, Suite C party, the government’s position was not substantially justified, and that the itemization of attorney time spent is reasonable. In short, the requirements of § 2412(d)(1)(B) are met.

Having thoroughly considered the parties’ briefing and the relevant record, the Court hereby GRANTS the motion and awards Plaintiff $5,947.20 in attorney’s fees, subject to any offset allowed under the Treasury Offset Program. See. Astrue v. Ratiff, 560 7 U.S. 586, 589 – 590 (2010). Payment of EAJA fees shall be sent to Plaintiff’s attorney: David Oliver & Associates, 2608 South 47th Street, Suite C, Tacoma, WA 98409. Pursuant to Ratiff, award shall be payable to Plaintiff’s attorneys, David Oliver & Associates, if the Commissioner confirms that Plaintiff owes no debt to the Government through the Federal Treasury Offset program.

13 For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s stipulated motion for attorney fees is GRANTED; 15 DATED this 12th day of March , 2021.

17 A 19 The Honorable Richard A. Jones United States District Judge

David Oliver & Associates 2608 South 47th Street, Suite C