United States Court of Federal Claims, 2013

Richard Harris, Individually, and on Behalf of the Heirs-At-Law of Andrea...

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided April 25, 2013

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: April 25, 2013

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * RICHARD HARRIS, individually, and * UNPUBLISHED on behalf of the Heirs-at-Law of * ANDREA HARRIS, and RICHARD * HARRIS, as Administrator of the * No. 12-218V Estate of ANDREA HARRIS, *

* Petitioner, * Special Master Dorsey

* v. *

* Attorneys’ Fees and Costs SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Reasonable Amount Requested to which AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Respondent Does not Object.

* Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Gary D. White, Jr., Palmer Leatherman White & Girard, LLP, Topeka, KS, for petitioner. Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

On October 9, 2012, Richard Harris(“petitioner”), as the administrator of the estate of Andrea Harris, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of the administration of the influenza vaccine on November 9, 2009, Andrea Harris suffered Guillain- Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) and she died as a consequence of her injuries. On October 12, 2012, a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation was entered.

On April 24, 2013, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Regarding Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, respondent does not object to a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $40,000.00. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a statement stating that he incurred no out-of-pocket expenses in pursuing his petition.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and respondent’s counsel’s lack of objection to petitioner’s counsel’s fee request, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

Accordingly, an award should be made in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and the law firm of Palmer Leatherman White & Girard, LLP in the amount of $40,000.00.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Special Master

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this decision on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the entire decision will be available to the public. Id. 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa. 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.

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