United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Yanagawa v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 11, 2017 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1376V

Filed: October 13, 2016

UNPUBLISHED

********************************* NAOMI YANAGAWA, *

Petitioner, *

v. *

* Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

Respondent. *

* **************************** Leah Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Darryl Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On November 13, 2015, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) following a November 16, 2012 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. On June 28, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ joint stipulation. (ECF No. 25).

On May 3, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No. 21). On September 16, 2016, the undersigned issued a reasoned decision in DiPietro v. HHS, 15-742V, setting forth an hourly rate for petitioner’s counsel, and petitioner was ordered to file an amended motion for attorneys’ fees and costs including billing records reflecting that hourly rate. (ECF No. 30). Petitioner filed an amended unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs on October 10, 2016. (ECF No. 31).3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $17,927.00 and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,368.39 for a total amount of $19,295.39. Id. at 1. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $19,295.394 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Leah V. Durant.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). 3 In the motion, petitioner states that respondent has no objection to petitioner’s request. 4 This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award encompasses all charges by the attorney against a client, “advanced costs” as well as fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, § 15(e)(3) prevents an attorney from charging or collecting fees (including costs) that would be in addition to the amount awarded herein. See generally Beck v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir. 1991). 5 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.

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