(SS) Lang v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. INTRODUCTION

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

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…