Newman v. Astrue

Filing 20

ORDER granting 18 Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 8/12/13. (nll)

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THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE DIVISION CIVIL CASE NO. 1:12-cv-00167-MR-DLH STEVEN J. NEWMAN, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting ) Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) Defendant. ) ___________________________________ ) ORDER THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) [Doc. 18]. The Defendant consents to the Plaintiff’s Motion [Doc. 19]. The Defendant advises the Court that the parties have stipulated and agreed to the award to Plaintiff of $6,101.15 for full settlement in satisfaction of any and all claims for attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). [Docs. 19, 19-1]. In light of the Court’s prior remand of this matter, and in the absence of any contention by the Commissioner that her position was substantially justified or that special circumstances exist that would render an award of attorney’s fees unjust, the Court concludes that the Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees under the EAJA. The Court further concludes that, in light of the Commissioner’s lack of opposition to the Plaintiff’s request, the Plaintiff is entitled to reimbursement from the Treasury Judgment Fund of the $350.00 in costs incurred as a result of filing this action. The parties request that the EAJA award be paid directly to Plaintiff’s counsel as his assignee. In support of this request, the parties have submitted a copy of his Fee Agreement with counsel, which purports to assign such fees. [Doc. 18-1]. The Court finds that the Commissioner should accept this assignment of the awarded fees by the Plaintiff to his attorney and upon receipt of such assignment, the Commissioner will pay that award of fees directly to Plaintiff’s counsel, provided that it is shown that as of the date of this Order, the Plaintiff does not owe any debt to the United States Government which is subject to offset. See Astrue v. Ratliff, __U.S. __, 130 S.Ct. 2521, 177 L.Ed.2d 91 (2010). IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) [Doc. 18] is hereby GRANTED, and the Plaintiff is hereby awarded attorney’s fees in the amount of Six Thousand One Hundred and One Dollars and Fifteen Cents ($6,101.15), which sum is in full satisfaction 2 of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commissioner shall inform Plaintiff’s counsel whether the Plaintiff owes a debt to the Government by which this fee award may be offset no later than thirty (30) days from entry of this Order. Within the same time period, the Plaintiff shall provide a valid fee assignment to the Defendant. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Three Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($350.00) in costs shall be reimbursed to the Plaintiff from the Treasury Judgment Fund upon certification thereof by the Office of the United States Attorney to the Department of Treasury. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the event that past-due benefits are awarded on remand, the Plaintiff shall have thirty (30) days after being served with notice of the past-due benefits award to file for an award of fees pursuant to the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 406(b). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no additional Petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) may be filed. Signed: August 12, 2013 IT IS SO ORDERED. 3

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