Stamper v. Astrue

Filing 20

ORDER granting 19 Motion for Attorney Fees. SSA shall pay attorney's fees in the amount of $2,139.91 in full satisfaction of any and all attorney's fee claims. Signed by Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer on 2/9/12. (smj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL ACTION NO.: 5:10-cv-202-RLV-DSC
LONNIE M. STAMPER,

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
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Commissioner of Social Security, )
Defendant.
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______________________________)

ORDER

Pursuant to the authority of this Court to award fees to a prevailing party other than the
United States incurred by that party in a civil action against the United States, including proceedings
for judicial review of agency action, under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. §
2412(d)(1)(A), and in light of this Court’s January 30, 2012, Judgment and Order remanding this
case to Defendant Commissioner for further administrative proceedings,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the United States Social Security Administration shall pay
attorney’s fees in the amount of two thousand one hundred thirty-nine dollars and ninety-one cents
($2,139.91) in full satisfaction of any and all attorney’s fee claims Plaintiff may have in this case
under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
Pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Commissioner of Social Security
v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 1251 (2010), these attorney’s fees are payable to Plaintiff as the prevailing
party, and are subject to offset through the Treasury Department’s Offset Program to satisfy any
pre-existing debt Plaintiff may owe to the government. If subsequent to the entry of this Order, the

Commissioner determines that Plaintiff owes no debt to the government that would subject this
award of attorney’s fees to any offset, the Commissioner may honor Plaintiff’s December 22, 2010
signed assignment of EAJA fees providing for payment of the subject fees to Plaintiff’s counsel,
rather than to Plaintiff. However, if Plaintiff is discovered to owe the government any debt subject
to offset, the Commissioner shall pay any attorney’s fees remaining after such offset to Plaintiff
rather than to counsel.
SO ORDERED.

Signed: February 9, 2012