United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Huffman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided July 28, 2015

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 13-666V (Not to be published) ***************************** *

APRIL HUFFMAN, as mother and natural * Filed: March 31, 2015 guardian of B.C., * *

Petitioner, * * v. * Decision; Attorney’s * Fees & Costs SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND *

HUMAN SERVICES, * *

Respondent. * * *****************************

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop, Attorney at Law, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Debra Begley, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

On September 11, 2013, April Huffman, as mother and natural guardian of B.C., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Thereafter, on October 31, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation settling the case and detailing the amount to be awarded to Petitioner. I subsequently issued a decision finding the parties’ stipulation to be reasonable and granting Petitioner an award as outlined in the stipulation.

On March 30, 2015, the parties filed another stipulation, this time regarding attorney’s fees and costs. Petitioner requests reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $30,500.00. This amount represents a sum to which Respondent does not object. In addition, and in compliance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner’s counsel asserts that Petitioner has not personally incurred litigation costs in conjunction with this proceeding on the Petition.

I approve the requested amount for attorney’s fees and costs as reasonable. Accordingly, an award of $30,500.00 should be made in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Jeffery S. Pop, and Jeffery S. Pop and Associates. Payment of this amount represents all attorney’s fees and costs available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e). 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/ Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Special Master

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted 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, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that each party has fourteen (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 decision will be available to the public. Id. 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises 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-10 through 34 (2006)) [hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act. 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately) a notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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