Unreported / Non-Citable
Disposition notice
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California adopted the parties' stipulation and awarded plaintiff Andrew Edward Chess $10,000 in attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). Chess filed the action on March 19, 2026, seeking review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, and the court remanded the matter to the Commissioner on October 20, 2026. On November 3, 2026, the parties stipulated to the fee award. After issuance of the order, the government shall consider the assignment of the EAJA fees to plaintiff's counsel, and any such assignment will depend on whether the fees are subject to an offset under the Treasury Department's Offset Program per Astrue v. Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586 (2010). Fees shall be made payable to plaintiff, but if the DOT determines that plaintiff does not owe a federal debt, the government shall cause payment to be made directly to plaintiff's counsel, Francesco Benavides. Whether payment is made payable to plaintiff or to counsel, the check shall be mailed to plaintiff's counsel's mailing address.