Velez v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 24

ORDER granting 23 Plaintiff's unopposed petition for attorney's fees pursuant to the EAJA. Signed by Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lammens on 6/4/2021. (AR)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
OCALA DIVISION
JEANETTE VELEZ,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 5:20-cv-61-PRL

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Consent Petition for Attorney’s Fees.
(Doc. 23). Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), Plaintiff
requests an award of fees in the amount of $4,285.47. The attached schedules of hours confirm
the attorney hours. (Doc. 23 at 11-12). Plaintiff represents that the Commissioner has no
objection to her petition.
Plaintiff asserts that she is the prevailing party in this litigation, that the
Commissioner’s position in the underlying action was not substantially justified and that her
net worth at the time proceeding was filed was less than two million dollars.1 On March 5,
2021, the Court entered an Order reversing and remanding this cause back to the
Commissioner for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc.

Under the EAJA, a claimant is eligible for an attorney fee award where: (1) the claimant is
a prevailing party in a non-tort suit involving the United States; (2) the Government’s position was
not substantially justified; (3) the claimant filed a timely application for attorney’s fees; (4) the
claimant had a net worth of less than $2 million at the time the complaint was filed; and (5) there are
no special circumstances which would make the award of fees unjust. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
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21). On March 8, 2021, the Clerk entered Judgment. (Doc. 22). On June 1, 2021, Plaintiff
filed her petition for attorney’s fees. (Doc. 23).
Plaintiff attached a copy of the fee agreement (Doc. 23-1), which includes Plaintiff’s
assignment of EAJA fees to her counsel. Given the assignment, Plaintiff requests (and
Defendant agrees) that the payment should be made payable to Plaintiff and delivered to
Plaintiff’s counsel unless Plaintiff owes a federal debt. If the U.S. Department of the Treasury
determines that Plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, the government will accept Plaintiff’s
assignment of EAJA fees and pay fees directly to Plaintiff’s counsel.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act (28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)),
Plaintiff’s petition for attorney’s fees (Doc. 23) is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff is awarded
attorney’s fees in the amount of $4,285.47. Payment is authorized to Plaintiff’s counsel if the
Commissioner determines Plaintiff does not owe a debt to the government.
DONE and ORDERED in Ocala, Florida on June 4, 2021.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

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