Cerda v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 15

STIPULATION and ORDER for the Award and Payment of Attorney Fees and Expenses. Fees and expenses in the amount of one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) shall be awarded subject to the terms of the Stipulation. Order signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 11/16/2017. (Timken, A)

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Brian C. Shapiro
Attorney at Law: 192789
Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing
12631 East Imperial Highway, Suite C-115
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Ricardo Tinajero Cerda

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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RICARDO TINAJERO CERDA,

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:17-cv-00553-SKO
STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR
THE AWARD AND PAYMENT OF
ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES
PURSUANT TO THE EQUAL
ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 28 U.S.C.
§ 2412(d)

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TO THE HONORABLE SHEILA K. OBERTO, MAGISTRATE JUDGE
OF THE DISTRICT COURT:
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their
undersigned counsel, subject to the approval of the Court, that Ricardo Tinajero
Cerda be awarded attorney fees in the amount of ONE THOUSAND SEVEN
HUNDRED dollars ($1,700) under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28
U.S.C. § 2412(d). 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).

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After the Court issues an order for EAJA fees to Ricardo Tinajero Cerda,

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the government will consider the matter of Ricardo Tinajero Cerda's assignment of

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EAJA fees to Brian C. Shapiro. The retainer agreement containing the assignment

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is attached as exhibit 1. Pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 2529 (2010),

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the ability to honor the assignment will depend on whether the fees are subject to

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any offset allowed under the United States Department of the Treasury's Offset

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Program. After the order for EAJA fees is entered, the government will determine

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whether they are subject to any offset.

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Fees shall be made payable to Ricardo Tinajero Cerda, but if the

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Department of the Treasury determines that Ricardo Tinajero Cerda does not owe a

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federal debt, then the government shall cause the payment of fees, expenses and

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costs to be made directly to Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, pursuant to the

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assignment executed by Ricardo Tinajero Cerda.1 Any payments made shall be

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delivered to Brian C. Shapiro.

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This stipulation constitutes a compromise settlement of Ricardo Tinajero

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Cerda's request for EAJA attorney fees, and does not constitute an admission of

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liability on the part of Defendant under the EAJA or otherwise. Payment of the

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agreed amount shall constitute a complete release from, and bar to, any and all

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claims that Ricardo Tinajero Cerda and/or Brian C. Shapiro including Law Offices

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of Lawrence D. Rohlfing may have relating to EAJA attorney fees in connection

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with this action.

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The parties do not stipulate whether counsel for the plaintiff has a cognizable lien
under federal law against the recovery of EAJA fees that survives the Treasury
Offset Program.
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This award is without prejudice to the rights of Brian C. Shapiro and/or the

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Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing to seek Social Security Act attorney fees

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under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b), subject to the savings clause provisions of the EAJA.

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DATE: November 15, 2017

Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE D. ROHLFING
/s/ Brian C. Shapiro
BY: __________________
Brian C. Shapiro
Attorney for plaintiff Ricardo Tinajero Cerda

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DATED: November 15, 2017 PHILLIP A. TALBERT
United States Attorney
/s/ Donna W. Anderson
DONNA W. ANDERSON
Special Assistant United States Attorney
Attorneys for Defendant NANCY A.
BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner of Social
Security (Per e-mail authorization)

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ORDER

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Based upon the parties’ above Stipulation for the Award and Payment of

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Attorney Fees and Expenses Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C.

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§ 2412(d), fees and expenses in the amount of one thousand seven hundred

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dollars ($1,700) shall be awarded subject to the terms of the above Stipulation.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated:

November 16, 2017

/s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Sheila K. Oberto

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