McClure v. Social Security Administration

Filing 22

ORDER granting 18 Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees & Expenses, & awarding him $1,929.12 in fees & expenses. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth Deere on 6/23/2011. (jct)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
KEVIN MCCLURE
V.

PLAINTIFF
CASE NO.: 3:10CV00025-BD

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Pending is Plaintiff Kevin McClure’s Motion for an Award of Attorney’s Fees
under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (docket entry #18).
In his motion, Mr. McClure requests fees in the amount of $1,912.50 and expenses in the
amount of $16.62. The Commissioner does not object to the amount requested (#20).
Accordingly, Mr. McClure’s motion (#18) is GRANTED, and he is awarded $1,929.12 in
fees and expenses.
In his motion, Mr. McClure states that he has assigned any attorney fees and costs
awarded under the EAJA to his attorney. Mr. McClure’s counsel attached a copy of the
contract he entered into with Mr. McClure to the motion. In the contract, Mr. McClure
assigned his rights to any EAJA fees and costs awarded in his case to his counsel. (#18-1
at p. 1) The contract also provides for Plaintiff to have any “checks made payable
directly to Anthony W. Bartels and sent directly to his address.” (#18-1 at p. 1) In his

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response, the Commissioner points out that any award of attorney’s fees to a plaintiff is
subject to an offset if the plaintiff has outstanding federal debts. (#20 at p. 1)
The Court will honor Mr. McClure’s assignment to the extent he does not owe any
debts subject to administrative offset under the Treasury Department’s Offset Program
(“TOP”). The Commissioner should contact the Treasury Department to determine
whether Mr. McClure owes any debt, as of the date of this order. If Mr. McClure owes
any dept under the TOP, the Commissioner shall pay the EAJA award to him, deducting
any offset owed under the TOP. If Mr. McClure does not owe a debt under the TOP,
however, the Commissioner is ordered to make the EAJA award check payable directly to
his attorney, Anthony W. Bartels, and mail it to Mr. Bartels.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 23rd day of June, 2011.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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