Dampier, Francis v. Colvin, Carolyn

Filing 29

ORDER granting 23 Motion for Attorney Fees under the EAJA. Attorney fees in the amount of $7,354.51 awarded to plaintiff Francis Dampier. Signed by District Judge James D. Peterson on 12/2/2015. (arw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

FRANCIS DAMPIER,
ORDER
Plaintiff,
v.

14-cv-457-jdp

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

Plaintiff Francis Dampier, through her attorney Dana Duncan, moves the court for an
order awarding attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
Dkt. 23. Plaintiff seeks $7,354.51, in full satisfaction of any claim for fees and costs in this case.
The Commissioner does not oppose the motion, and the parties agree that the court may assign
the award to plaintiff. Dkt. 28.
EAJA fees belong to plaintiff as the prevailing party, not to his attorney. See Astrue v.
Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010). Accordingly, the EAJA award is subject to offset, to satisfy any preexisting debt that plaintiff may owe the United States. Id. Provided that the award is offset to
satisfy any pre-existing debt, the prevailing party may assign the fee award directly to his
attorney. See Mathews-Sheets v. Astrue, 653 F.3d 560, 565 (7th Cir. 2011), overruled on other
grounds by Sprinkle v. Colvin, 777 F.3d 421 (7th Cir. 2015).
After entry of this order, if counsel for the parties can verify that plaintiff owes no preexisting debt subject to offset, then the Commissioner will direct that $7,354.51 be paid to
Dana Duncan pursuant to the EAJA assignment signed by plaintiff and her counsel. Dkt. 24.

ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that plaintiff Francis Dampier’s motion for attorney fees in the amount
of $ 7,354.51, Dkt. 23, is GRANTED.
Entered: December 2, 2015.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
____________________________________
JAMES D. PETERSON
District Judge

2