Filed: Apr. 17, 2012
Latest Update: Apr. 17, 2012
Summary: ORDER MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge. THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff's Motion for Payment of Attorneys Fees. [Doc. 17]. The Commissioner does not oppose the Plaintiff's fee request. [Doc. 19]. The Plaintiff seeks an award to her counsel in the amount of $1,555.50 in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d). As noted above, the Commissioner does not contest the Plaintiff's reque
Summary: ORDER MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge. THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff's Motion for Payment of Attorneys Fees. [Doc. 17]. The Commissioner does not oppose the Plaintiff's fee request. [Doc. 19]. The Plaintiff seeks an award to her counsel in the amount of $1,555.50 in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d). As noted above, the Commissioner does not contest the Plaintiff's reques..
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ORDER
MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff's Motion for Payment of Attorneys Fees. [Doc. 17]. The Commissioner does not oppose the Plaintiff's fee request. [Doc. 19].
The Plaintiff seeks an award to her counsel in the amount of $1,555.50 in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
As noted above, the Commissioner does not contest the Plaintiff's request for fees. In light of the Court's prior remand of this matter, and in the absence of any contention by the Commissioner that his position was substantially justified or that special circumstances exist that would render an award of attorney's fees unjust, the Court concludes that the Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney's fees under the EAJA.
The Plaintiff requests that the EAJA award be paid directly to her counsel as her assignee. In support of her request, the Plaintiff has submitted a copy of her Assignment of Fees to counsel. [Doc. 18-1]. The Court finds that the Commissioner should accept this Assignment of the awarded fees by the Plaintiff to her attorney and upon receipt of such Assignment, the Commissioner will pay that award of fees directly to Plaintiff's counsel, provided that it is shown that as of the date of this Order, the Plaintiff does not owe any debt to the United States Government which is subject to offset. See Astrue v. Ratliff, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010).
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Plaintiff's Motion for Payment of Attorneys Fees [Doc. 17] is hereby GRANTED, and the Plaintiff is hereby awarded attorney's fees in the amount of One Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty-Five Dollars and Fifty Cents ($1,555.50), which sum is in full satisfaction of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commissioner shall inform Plaintiff's counsel whether the Plaintiff owes a debt to the Government by which this fee award may be offset no later than thirty (30) days from entry of this Order. Within the same time period, the Plaintiff shall provide a valid fee assignment to the Defendant.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no additional Petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) may be filed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
