Hagan, Jr. v. Astrue

Filing 14

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

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL CASE NO. 1:12-cv-00339-MR-DLH

GILBERT C. HAGAN,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
vs.
)
)
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
)
Commissioner of Social Security,
)
)
Defendant.
)
___________________________________ )

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Application and
Consent Motion for Entry of Order Accepting the Parties’ Settlement
Agreement on Attorney’s Fees [Doc. 13].
The parties in this case agree that pursuant to the Equal Access to
Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), the Plaintiff should be awarded an
attorney’s fee in the amount of $4,544.06, court fees in the amount of
$350.00, and mailing expenses in the amount of $17.85. [Doc. 13]. 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

fees and expenses 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 assignment to counsel. [Doc. 13 at 10]. 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 Application and
Consent Motion for Entry of Order Accepting the Parties’ Settlement
Agreement on Attorney’s Fees [Doc. 13] is hereby GRANTED, and the
Plaintiff is hereby awarded $4,544.06 in attorney’s fees and $17.85 in other
expenses, for a total award of Four Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-One

2

Dollars and Ninety-One Cents ($4,561.91), which sum is in full satisfaction
of any and all claims by the Plaintiff in this case under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d).
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 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 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