United States Court of Federal Claims, 2015

Copperthite v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 13, 2015 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 11-457V Filed: October 20, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED ASHLEY COPPERTHITE, as next friend and * mother of ASIA COPPERTHITE, deceased, *

* Special Master Gowen Petitioner, *

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

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Elaine W. Sharp, Whitfield Sharp & Sharp, LLC, Marblehead, MA, for petitioner.

Claudia B. Gangi, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On July 11, 2011, Ashley Copperthite (“petitioner”) filed a petition on behalf of decedent, Asia Copperthite, pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving Pediarix, Hemophilus influenza type B (“HiB”), and Measles-Mumps-Rubella (“MMR”) vaccinations on January 2, 2008, Asia Copperthite suffered injuries and death on July 22, 2009. Petition at ¶ 12-13, docket no. 1, filed July 11, 2011. On August 13, 2015, the parties filed a joint status report indicating that they have reached a tentative settlement and request a 15-week order. See Joint Status Report, docket no. 73, filed Aug. 13, 2015. A 15-week order was issued on August 14, 2015.

On October 19, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation concerning attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner requests a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $82,823.00. Stip. for Fees and Costs ¶ 4, docket no. 75, filed Oct. 19, 2015. Respondent does not object. Id. at ¶ 3. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner represents that she did not incur any reimbursable costs in pursuit of this claim. Id. at ¶ 5.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable 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) in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorney, Elaine W. Sharp, of Whitfield Sharp & Sharp, LLC in the amount of $82,823.00. 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 (2012)). 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 (2012) (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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