AULT v. COLVIN

Filing 25

ORDER granting 21 Motion for Attorney Fees and awarding fees in the amount of $3,627.00 and costs in the amount of $400.00. Signed by Judge Donetta W. Ambrose on 2/17/17. (ask)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
KENNETH E. AULT

)
) No. 15-931
)

v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN

ORDER

AND NOW, this 17th day of February, 2017, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED that Plaintiff’s Motion for fees is GRANTED, in that Plaintiff Kenneth Ault is
awarded attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”) in the amount of
three thousand six hundred twenty seven dollars ($3,627.00), and costs in the amount of four
hundred dollars ($400.00).
The Defendant has proposed making payment directly to Plaintiff, but Plaintiff seeks
payment directly to counsel instead. The record reflects that Plaintiff assigned his right to EAJA
fees to counsel. Some courts have found that EAJA fees may be paid directly to counsel under
such circumstances. However, within the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Court’s practice
has more often been to direct payment to Plaintiff rather than to counsel, even in light of an
assignment. See, e.g.,Gallagher v. Astrue, No. 11-1118, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143056, at *3
(W.D. Pa. Oct. 3, 2012); Bonani v. Astrue, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14180 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 14,
2011); see also Bluford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82098 (D.N.J. July 25,
2011); Burt v. Astrue, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37887 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 7, 2011).
In this case, the attorney fees and costs awarded shall be paid directly to Kenneth Ault,
and sent to the business address of Plaintiff’s counsel. Full or partial remittance of the awarded

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attorney fees will be contingent upon a determination by tGovernment that Plaintiff owes to
qualifying, pre-existing debt(s) to the Government. If such a debt(s) exists, the Government will
reduce the awarded attorney fees in this Order to the extent necessary to satisfy such debt(s).

BY THE COURT:
/s/Donetta W. Ambrose
_______________________________
Donetta W. Ambrose
Senior Judge, U.S. District Court

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