(SS) Lang v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. INTRODUCTION

15 16 On March 13, 2024, Stuart T. Barasch (“Counsel”), counsel for Plaintiff Stephanie Lang 17 (“Plaintiff”), filed a motion for an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) (“section 18 406(b)”). (Doc. 23.) On March 14, 2024, the Court issued a minute order requiring Plaintiff and 19 the Commissioner to file their responses in opposition or statements of non-opposition to Counsel’s 20 motion, if any, in accordance with this Court’s local rules. (Doc. 24.) Plaintiff and the 21 Commissioner were served with copies of the motion for attorney’s fees. (Docs. 28, 29.) 22 On March 20, 2024, the Commissioner filed a response, acknowledging it has “no direct 23 financial stake in the outcome” of the motion, and therefore “neither supports nor opposes Counsel’s 24 request for attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).” (Doc. 26 at 2.) Plaintiff did not file any 25 objection to the motion by the deadline, and no reply brief was filed. (See Docket). 26

27 1 On December 20, 2023, Martin O’Malley was named Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. See https://www.ssa.gov/history/commissioners.html. He is…