Elawyers Elawyers
Washington| Change

Ballestero v. Berryhill, 1:15-cv-01798-SKO. (2017)

Court: District Court, E.D. California Number: infdco20170523907 Visitors: 3
Filed: May 22, 2017
Latest Update: May 22, 2017
Summary: STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d) AND COSTS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. 1920 SHEILA K. OBERTO , Magistrate Judge . TO THE HONORABLE SHEILA K. OBERTO, MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT: IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Diana Christine Ballestero be awarded attorney fees in the amount of
More

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) AND COSTS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1920

TO THE HONORABLE SHEILA K. OBERTO, MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT:

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Diana Christine Ballestero be awarded attorney fees in the amount of three thousand four hundred dollars ($3,400.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400.00) under 28 U.S.C. § 1920. 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).

After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Diana Christine Ballestero, the government will consider the matter of Diana Christine Ballestero's assignment of EAJA fees to Cyrus Safa. The retainer agreement containing the assignment is attached as exhibit 1. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2529 (2010), the ability to honor the assignment will depend on whether the fees are subject to any offset allowed under the United States Department of the Treasury's Offset Program. After the order for EAJA fees is entered, the government will determine whether they are subject to any offset.

Fees shall be made payable to Diana Christine Ballestero, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Diana Christine Ballestero does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, pursuant to the assignment executed by Diana Christine Ballestero.1 Any payments made shall be delivered to Cyrus Safa.

This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Diana Christine Ballestero'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 Diana Christine Ballestero and/or Cyrus Safa including Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action.

This award is without prejudice to the rights of Cyrus Safa and/or the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing to seek Social Security Act attorney fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.

ORDER

Based upon the above Stipulation for the Award and Payment of Attorney Fees and Expenses Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), (Doc. 21), IT IS ORDERED that fees in the amount of three thousand four hundred dollars ($3,400) under EAJA, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), and costs in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400) under 28 U.S.C. § 1920 be awarded subject to the terms of the above Stipulation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

FootNotes


1. The parties do not stipulate whether counsel for the plaintiff has a cognizable lien under federal law against the recovery of EAJA fees that survives the Treasury Offset Program.
Source:  Leagle

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer