Peoples v. Social Security Administration

Filing 25

ORDER granting pltf's 22 Motion for Attorney's Fees under the EAJA; pltf is awarded $3,701.67 in fees and expenses. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth Deere on 1/18/12. (vjt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
LORETTA PEOPLES
V.

PLAINTIFF
CASE NO.: 3:10CV00268 BD

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Pending is Plaintiff Loretta Peoples’s Motion for an Award of Attorney’s Fees
under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (docket entry #22). In
her motion, Ms. Peoples requests fees and expenses in the amount of $3,701.67. The
Commissioner does not object to the amount requested (#24). Accordingly, Ms.
Peoples’s motion (#22) is GRANTED, and she is awarded $3,701.67 in fees and
expenses.
Under the Treasury Department’s Offset Program (“TOP”), attorney’s fee awards
are subject to administrative offset when the plaintiff has outstanding federal debts. The
Commissioner should contact the Treasury Department to determine whether Ms. Peoples
owes any debt, as of the date of this Order. If Ms. Peoples owes a debt under the TOP,
the Commissioner must pay the EAJA award to her, deducting any offset owed under the
TOP. If Ms. Peoples does not owe a debt under the TOP, however, the Commissioner is
ordered to make the EAJA award check payable directly to Ms. Peoples’s attorney,
Anthony W. Bartels, and mail it to Mr. Bartels.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 18th day of January, 2012.

____________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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