Peoples v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-980V Filed: August 18, 2016 ************************* JAMES RODNEY PEOPLES, * UNPUBLISHED * * Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman Petitioner, * * v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; * Reasonable Amount Requested SECRETARY OF HEALTH * to which Respondent Does Not AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Object. * Respondent. * ************************* Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Justine Walters, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION 1 On September 4, 2015, James Rodney Peoples (“Petitioner”) petitioned for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012).

Petitioner alleged that the administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine, on March 31, 2014, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). On August 5, 2016, issued a decision, pursuant to a joint stipulation, determining that Petitioner was entitled to compensation.

On August 9, 2016, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs.

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 purposes espoused in the E-Government Act of 2002. See 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). 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).

Petitioner requests compensation for $16,104.00 in attorneys’ fees and $1,460.12 costs (of which Petitioner bore none). Petitioner requests a total of $17,564.12 in attorneys’ fees and costs.

On August 15, 2016, Respondent informed the undersigned that she “does not object to the overall amount sought, as it is not an unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings in this case.” Respondent cautions, however, that her “lack of objection to the amount sought in this case should not be construed as an admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the other litigation related costs.”

In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned finds that Petitioner’s request for fees and costs is reasonable. Correspondingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $17,564.12, in the form of a check made payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Jeffrey S. Pop. 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. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Special Master

Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).