STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR ATTORNEY FEES PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

DEBORAH BARNES, Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff, Stephanie Mina, by and through her attorney, Nancy McCombs, and Defendant, Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting Commissioner of Social Security Administration, by and through attorneys, McGregor Scott, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California, Jeffrey Chen, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and Deborah Lee Stachel, Regional Chief Counsel, for said district, jointly stipulate that the court award attorney fees and expenses in the amount of four-thousand three-hundred dollars ($4,300.00) under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 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 order for EAJA fees to Plaintiff, the government will consider the matter of the Plaintiff's assignment of EAJA fees to Nancy McCombs. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 598, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (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 Plaintiff, but if the Department of the Treasury determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and costs to be made directly to Nancy McCombs, pursuant to the assignment executed by Plaintiff. Any payments made shall be delivered to Nancy McCombs.

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 Nancy McCombs, including the Law Office of McCombs and Abel have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection with this action.

The parties hereby request that the court enter an order awarding the Plaintiff attorney fees and expenses in the amount of $4,700.00, which includes $4,300.00 in fees and $400.00 in costs, in settlement of any and all claim he may have in the matter pursuant to EAJA.

ORDER

Pursuant to the parties' stipulation, IT IS SO ORDERED.