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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 GERMAINE STAR D., Case No.: 3:25-cv-01162-AHG
12 Plaintiff, ORDER REQUIRING
SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING
13 v.
14 FRANK BISIGNANO, Commissioner of [ECF No. 17]
Social Security,
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Defendant.
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Before the Court is the parties’ Joint Stipulation for Attorney Fees Pursuant to the
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Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”). ECF No. 17. The parties jointly request that the
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Court award Plaintiff attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. §
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2412(d), in the amount of $9,500.00. Id.
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Under the EAJA, a litigant is entitled to attorney fees and costs if: “(1) he is the
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prevailing party; (2) the government fails to show that its position was substantially
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justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust; and (3) the requested fees and
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costs are reasonable.” Carbonell v. I.N.S., 429 F.3d 894, 898 (9th Cir. 2005). To assess
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whether the requested fees are reasonable, the Court evaluates the hourly rates sought and
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the number of hours expended. See, e.g., Beatriz B. v. Saul, No. 19cv785-AHG, 2020 WL
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1 ||5203371, at *2—*3 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 1, 2020); Ulugalu v. Berryhill, No. 17cv1087-GPC-
2 || JLB, 2018 WL 2012330, at *3—*4 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 30, 2018).
3 The parties have not provided sufficient information for the Court to evaluate the
4 ||reasonableness of the requested EAJA award. Specifically, the Joint Stipulation does not
5 ||include a billing statement, information regarding the number of hours billed, the hourly
6 || rates requested, or the qualifications and experience of the attorneys and paralegals whose
7 || time is included in the requested award. Because this information is necessary for the Court
8 || to assess the reasonableness of the requested fees, the Court requires additional information
9 || before ruling on the Joint Stipulation.
10 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS the parties to file a Joint Supplemental Brief no
11 than June 24, 2026. The Joint Supplemental Brief shall include:
12 (1)The names, qualifications, experience, and hourly billing rates of all attorneys
13 and paralegals whose time forms the basis of the requested EAJA award;
14 (2)A billing statement or itemization of time reflecting the dates worked, time
15 expended, attorney or paralegal designation, description of work performed, and
16 total hours claimed; and
17 (3) Any additional information the parties believe supports the reasonableness of the
18 requested EAJA award of $9,500.00, including a copy of any assignment
19 agreement referenced in the Joint Stipulation.
20 IT IS SO ORDERED.
21 || Dated: June 17, 2026
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Honorable Allison H. Goddard
24 United States Magistrate Judge
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