United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Mejia v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided March 13, 2015 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: February 19, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED ITZA MEJIA, as mother and natural * guardian of B.M., and SAMUEL MEJIA * No. 14-189V as father and natural guardian of B.M., *

Petitioners, *

* Special Master Dorsey v. *

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

Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * Jeffrey S. Pop, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioners.

Gordon Elliot Shemin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1 On March 6, 2014, Itza and Samuel Mejia (“petitioners”) filed a petition for compensation on behalf of their minor child, B.M., pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioners alleged that B.M.’s death was a result of a hepatitis A vaccine administered to her on March 5, 2012. See Petition at 1. On January 12, 2015, the undersigned entered a decision awarding compensation to petitioners based on a joint stipulation filed by the parties.

On February 19, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Concerning Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties stipulate to a total award to petitioners of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $32,500.00. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioners’ counsel states that petitioners did not personally incur any costs in pursuit of their claim.

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 petitioners’ request and the lack of any objection by respondent, the undersigned GRANTS the request for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

Accordingly, an award should be made as follows: in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioners and to petitioners’ attorney, Jeffrey S. Pop, in the amount of $32,500.00.

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 the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine 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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