United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Correa v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided April 7, 2017 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-566V Filed: July 28, 2016 UNPUBLISHED

********************************* RAFAEL CORREA and ZAPHIRA * BRITO, on behalf of A.C., a minor, *

Petitioner, *

v. *

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

Respondent. *

**************************** John Howie, Jr., Howie Law, P.C., Dallas, TX, for petitioner.

Adriana Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On June 3, 2015, petitioners filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”), on behalf of their minor daughter A.C. The petition alleged that A.C. suffered intussusception due to the rotavirus vaccine she received on July 3, 2012. On June 9, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s proffer to which petitioner agreed. (ECF No. 35).

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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.

On July 28, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No. 40).3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $16,124.00 and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,071.09 for a total amount of $17,195.09. Id. at 1. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.4 Petitioner’s General Order #9 Statement filed as Attachment to Unopposed Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (ECF No. 40).

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 $17,195.095 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel John Howie, Jr.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.6 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

3 The motion was filed as an unopposed motion and specifically states that respondent has no objection to petitioner’s request.

4Petitioner’s counsel also represents in the motion that petitioner has incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Unopposed Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs at 2 (ECF No. 40). 5This 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).

6 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.

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).

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