govinfo:USCOURTS-moed-4_25-cv-00222-1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI  
EASTERN DIVISION 
 
RACHELLE KEARNS,          )    
      )   
Plaintiff,         )    
      )  
vs.             )   Case No. 4:25-cv-0222-MTS   
      )  
FRANK J. BISIGNANO, Commissioner of      ) 
the Social Security Administration,           )  
      )   
Defendant.         )  
 
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for  Bill of Costs, Doc. [17], as 
well as Plaintiff’s Motion for an Award of Attorney’s Fees under the Equal Access to Justice 
Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. § 2412,  Doc. [19].  Plaintiff asks to be awarded $9,394.08 for 38.8 
hours of attorney work.  Id. at 3.  Defendant has no objection.  Doc. [20].  The Court will 
award Plaintiff  expenses in the amount of  $9,394.08 to be paid by the Social Security 
Administration.  See 28 U.S.C. §  2412(d)(4).  This amount is  subject to any allowable 
offset to satisfy any pre -existing debt Plaintiff owes to the United States.   See Astrue v. 
Ratliff, 560 U.S. 586, 596 (2010) (explaining that subsection (d)(1)(A) awards are “payable 
to the prevailing litigant, and thus subject to offset”).  If Plaintiff owes no outstanding debt 
to the United States that can be offset, the amounts are  to be paid and sent directly to 
Plaintiff’s attorney.  See Doc. [19-2].  If Plaintiff owes an outstanding debt to the United 
States, and such debt is subject to offset, Defendant shall offset the debt and send the 
remainder (if any) of the award to Plaintiff’s attorney. 
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Plaintiff also seeks reimbursement for her $405 filing fee.  Doc. [17]; Doc. [19] at 
4.  Defendant does not object to this request either.   Doc. [20].  The Court will award 
Plaintiff costs in the amount of $405 to be paid from the Judgment Fund administered by 
the United States Treasury.  See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)(1); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1920.  This 
amount shall also be paid directly to Plaintiff’s attorney.  See Doc. [9-2]. 
Accordingly, 
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for an Award of Attorney’s Fees 
is GRANTED.  EAJA fees and expenses in the amount of $9,394.08 shall be paid by the 
Social Security Administration in accordance with the EAJA and this Memorandum and 
Order. 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED  that Plaintiff’s Motion for Bill of Costs, Doc. [17], is 
GRANTED.  The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to tax costs in the amount of $405.00, 
which shall be paid from the Judgment Fund administered by the United States Treasury. 
Dated this 28th day of May 2026. 
 
             
MATTHEW T. SCHELP 
      UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 
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