United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Davison v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided December 4, 2017 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 16-571V Filed: March 30, 2017

UNPUBLISHED

********************************* RENATE DAVISON, *

Petitioner, *

v. *

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

Respondent. *

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

Traci Patton Tayman, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On May 12, 2016, 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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccination. On December 23, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 17).

On January 31, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs (ECF No. 22) and on February 24, 2017, petitioner filed supporting documentation related to attorneys’ costs. (ECF No. 25.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $13,678 and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,776.51 for a total amount of $15,454.51. Id. at 1. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

On February 3, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No. 23). In his response, respondent stated he does not object to the overall amount sought, as it is not unreasonable for proceedings in this case. Id. at 1.

The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, and the undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates.

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

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $15,454.513 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel John Robert Howie, Jr.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4 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 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). 4 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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