United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Vernacchio v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided July 29, 2015 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 08-504V

(Not to be published)

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ROBERT VERNACCHIO and ERICA * VERNACCHIO, parents and natural guardians of * L.V., a minor, *

* Filed: July 7, 2015 Petitioner, *

* Interim Fees; Decision by v. * Stipulation; Attorney’s Fees & Costs

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, *

Respondent. *

***************************** Robert Joel Krakow, Law Office of Robert J. Krakow, P.C., New York, NY, for Petitioner Lynn Elizabeth Ricciardella, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

INTERIM ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS DECISION1 On July 11, 2008, Robert and Erica Vernacchio filed a petition on behalf of their child, L.V., seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. A hearing was held on April 13-14, 2015, and the Parties are currently in the process of submitting their post- hearing briefs.

On July 6, 2015, counsel for both parties filed a joint stipulation in regards to interim attorney’s fees and costs. The parties have stipulated that Petitioner’s counsel should receive a lump sum of $210,501.84, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel. This amount represents a sum to which Respondent does not object.

In addition, and in compliance with General Order No. 9, Petitioners filed two declarations representing that they have to date incurred reimbursable costs of $3,458.82 in proceeding with this petition. They assert that these costs are included in the total amount of costs and disbursements stipulated to in the interim fees stipulation. Furthermore, Mr. Krakow represents in the stipulation that he will reimburse Petitioners this amount for all expenses they personally incurred in this case, and the Parties do not object to disbursing this category of costs in this manner.

I approve the requested amount for an interim award of attorney’s fees and costs as reasonable. Accordingly, an award should be made in the form of a check in the amount of $210,501.84 payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Robert Joel Krakow, Esq. 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.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran Special Master

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my actions in this case, I will post it 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 (Dec. 17, 2002) (current version at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2014)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the published decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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 whole decision will be available to the public. Id. 2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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