Roberts v. Social Security Administration

Filing 19

ORDER granting 15 Motion to Substitute Attorney. The Clerk is directed to substitute Stephanie Bartels Wallace as counsel for plaintiff Debbie Roberts. The 16 Motion for Attorney fees is granted. An EAJA award in the total amount of $2,19 8.32 is awarded. Because the award belongs to Roberts, and not her attorney, the Department of Treasury shall issue payment of this award by check made payable to Roberts, in care of her attorney, Stephanie Bartels Wallace, and shall mail the check to Ms. Wallace at her Jonesboro, Arkansas, address. Signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia S. Harris on 8/1/2016. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION

DEBBIE ROBERTS

VS.

PLAINTIFF

CASE NO. 3:15CV00372 PSH

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

DEFENDANT

ORDER

Two motions are pending in this social security case.
The motion of Bartels Law Firm to substitute counsel (docket entry no. 15) is granted, and
the Clerk is directed to substitute Stephanie Bartels Wallace as counsel for plaintiff Debbie Roberts
(“Roberts”).
Roberts requests the award of attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act
(EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin (“Colvin”) does not oppose the motion.
This motion (docket entry no. 16) is granted. We approve an EAJA award in the total amount of
$2,198.32 ($2,178.25 in attorney fees, plus $20.07 in expenses). We find nothing unreasonable
about the hours of work performed or the hourly rate requested. Because the award belongs to
Roberts, and not her attorney, as set forth in Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S. Ct. 2521 (2010), the Department
of Treasury shall issue payment of this award by check made payable to Roberts, in care of her
attorney, Ms. Stephanie Bartels Wallace, and shall mail the check to Ms. Wallace at her Jonesboro,
Arkansas, address.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 1st day of August, 2016.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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