United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Arlotta v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided April 24, 2015 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 12-222V Filed: April 1, 2015 (Not to be published)

************************ VIRGINIA ARLOTTA, *

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

* SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

* Respondent. *

************************ Ronald C. Homer, Esq., Conway, Homer, and Chin-Caplan, Boston, MA for petitioner. Lara Englund, Esq., U.S. Dept. 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 Decision on November 6, 2014, adopting the parties’ stipulation for award. On March 31, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact concerning attorneys’ fees and costs. Pursuant to General Order #9, petitioner also filed on March 27, 2015, a statement indicating that she incurred costs related to the litigation of this matter in the amount of $163.29.

The parties’ stipulation indicates that respondent does not object to the amended amount of $53,836.71 that petitioner is requesting for attorneys’ fees and costs and $163.29 in petitioner’s personal costs.

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 total of $54,000.00 in attorneys’ fees & costs as follows:

• a lump sum of $53,836.71 in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Ronald Homer, Esq., for petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

• A lump sum of $163.29 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,

Virginia Arlotta, for petitioner’s personal 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in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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