United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Shinskey v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided October 21, 2015 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-713V Filed: September 15, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED THOMAS SHINSKEY, *

* Special Master Gowen Petitioner, *

* Joint Stipulation; v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

* SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

* Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mindy M. Roth, Britcher, Leone & Roth, LLC, Glenn Rock, NJ, for petitioner.

Heather L. Pearlman, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON INTERIM ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On July 9, 2015, Thomas Shinskey (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving a Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (“DTP”) vaccine on July 30, 2012, he developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Petition at Preamble.

On September 11, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation concerning interim attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner requests a total award of interim attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $5,648.87. Stip. for Fees and Costs ¶ 3. Respondent does not object. Id. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner did not incur any reimbursable costs in pursuit of this claim. Id. at ¶ 4.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable interim attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of the parties’ stipulation, the undersigned GRANTS the request for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

Accordingly, an award should be made as follows: (1) A check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorney, Mindy M. Roth, of Britcher, Leone & Roth, LLC, in the amount of $5,648.87.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, 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 decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this ruling 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 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). 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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