Bartunek v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 20

DECISION AND ENTRY granting 19 Motion for Attorney Fees- IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: 1. The Parties Joint Stipulation for an Award of Attorney Feesunder the Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. #19) is accepted and the Commissioner shall pay Plaint iff's attorney fees, costs, and expenses in the total amount of $5,780.00; 2. Counsel for the parties shall verify, within thirty days of this Decision and Entry, whether or not Plaintiff owes a preexisting debt to the United States subject to offset. If no such pre-existing debt exists, Defendant shall pay the EAJA award directly to Plaintiff's counsel pursuant to the EAJA assignment signed by Plaintiff; and 3. The case remains terminated on the docket of this Court. Signed by Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington on 9/26/17. (kma) Modified on 9/26/2017 to correct docket text (srb).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION AT DAYTON
KRISTIN N. BARTUNEK,
Plaintiff,
vs.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.

: Case No. 3:16-cv-326
:
: Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington
: (by full consent of the parties)
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

DECISION AND ENTRY
This case is before the Court on the parties’ Joint Stipulation for an Award of
Attorney Fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
(Doc. #19). Specifically, the parties stipulate to an award to Plaintiff of attorney fees
in the amount of $5,780.00 in full satisfaction and settlement of any and all claims for
fees, expenses, and costs that Plaintiff may have under the EAJA in the above case.
Any fees paid belong to Plaintiff, and not her attorney, and can be offset to satisfy preexisting debt that Plaintiff owes the United States pursuant to Astrue v. Ratliff, 560
U.S. 586 (2010).
After the Court enters this award, if counsel for the parties can verify that
Plaintiff owes no pre-existing debt subject to offset, Defendant agrees to direct that the
award be made payable to Plaintiff’s attorney pursuant to the EAJA assignment duly
signed by Plaintiff.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.

The Parties’ Joint Stipulation for an Award of Attorney Fees
under the Equal Access to Justice Act (Doc. #19) is accepted
and the Commissioner shall pay Plaintiff=s attorney fees,
costs, and expenses in the total amount of $5,780.00;

2.

Counsel for the parties shall verify, within thirty days of this
Decision and Entry, whether or not Plaintiff owes a preexisting debt to the United States subject to offset. If no such
pre-existing debt exists, Defendant shall pay the EAJA award
directly to Plaintiff=s counsel pursuant to the EAJA
assignment signed by Plaintiff; and

3.

The case remains terminated on the docket of this Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: September 26, 2017

s/Sharon L. Ovington
Sharon L. Ovington
United States Magistrate Judge

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