United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Aiani v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided March 19, 2015 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 13-0742V Filed: February 26, 2015 (not to be published)

************************* JOHN AIANI, *

Petitioner, * Stipulation; Attorneys’ Fees & Costs v. *

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

Respondent. *

**************************** Donald Philip Edwards, Law Office of Donald P. Edwards, Atlanta, Georgia, for petitioner.

Linda Renzi, U.S. Dep’t. of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS 1

Gowen, Special Master:

In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 2 I issued a 15-week stipulation order on November 11, 2014, and an entitlement decision remains pending. On February 24, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact concerning attorneys’ fees and costs. Additionally, pursuant to General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel asserted that petitioner incurred no personal litigation costs in this matter. Id. at para. 4.

The parties’ stipulation indicates that respondent does not object to the amended amount of $11,328.05 in attorneys’ fees and cost that petitioner is requesting.

I find that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award:

• A lump sum of $11,328.05 in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel of record, Donald P. Edwards, for petitioner’s attorney fees and costs.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E- Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will delete such material from public access. 2 The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2006). 3 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. See Vaccine Rule 11(a).

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