Teresa M. v. King
- Dulce Foster
- 0:24-cv-03939
- U.S. District Court · District of Minnesota
- 2
In Teresa M. v. Dudek, Judge Foster granted Teresa M.’s motion under the Equal Access to Justice Act and ordered $8,000 in attorney fees, subject to possible debt offset.
Teresa M., the Government, and Teresa M.’s attorney’s firm, Konoski & Partners, P.C., are affected by the $8,000 fee award and the payment and possible debt-offset conditions.
What happened
Teresa M. v. Leland Dudek concerned Teresa M.’s request for attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act. The opinion does not describe the underlying Social Security dispute.
The Government did not oppose the request. Based on the parties’ agreement and supporting documents, the court granted the motion and ordered the Government to pay $8,000 in attorney fees.
Judge Dulce J. Foster also explained that the fees could be reduced to pay certain debts Teresa M. owes the United States. The order directs how any remaining payment must be made and delivered.
The detailed version
- Teresa M. v. King · No. 0:24-cv-03939
- Dulce J. Foster
- Mar. 12, 2025
Background
Teresa M. moved for an award of attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d). She requested $8,000. The Government did not oppose the motion.
Ruling
The court granted the motion based on the parties’ agreement and Teresa M.’s supporting documents. It ordered the Government to pay Teresa M. $8,000 in attorney fees.
Payment Conditions
The fees may be subject to an offset—meaning a reduction to satisfy a preexisting debt Teresa M. may owe the United States. If the Commissioner determines that Teresa M. owes no debt subject to the Treasury Offset Program and agrees to waive the Anti-Assignment Act’s requirements, the fees will be payable to Teresa M.’s attorney’s firm, Konoski & Partners, P.C. If a Treasury Offset Program debt exists and the Commissioner cannot waive those requirements, any fees remaining after the offset will be paid by check to Teresa M.
Any payment check, whether made out to Teresa M. or her attorney, must be delivered to Konoski & Partners, P.C., at the address stated in the order. The opinion addresses the fee motion and does not decide the underlying Social Security claims.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.