United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Drach v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 23, 2017 · Mindy Michaels Roth

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-350V Filed: January 27, 2017 UNPUBLISHED

****************************** DANIEL DRACH, *

Petitioner, *

v. *

* Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Reasonable Amount Requested; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Respondent Does Not Object

Respondent. *

************************* Tara O’Mahoney, Law Offices of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL for petitioner. Heather Pearlman, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Roth, Special Master:

On April 7, 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 he suffered chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) as a result of receiving tetanus-diphtheria- acellular pertussis (“Tdap”), measles-mumps-rubella (“MMR”), and combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B (“Twinrix”) vaccines on January 22, 2014. On August 12, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 30).

On January 26, 2017, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No. 35). 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $18,732, and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $10,918.97 for a total amount of $29,650.97. Id. at 1. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel agrees to indemnify petitioner for any out-of-pocket costs.

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 $29,650.97 4 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Tara O’Mahoney.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 5 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Mindy Michaels Roth Mindy Michaels Roth 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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. Respondent’s lack of objection to the amount sought in this case should not be construed as admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the other litigation related costs. 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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