Winters v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-1570V Filed: December 21, 2017 Not for Publication ************************************* LAURA WINTERS, * * Petitioner, * * Attorneys’ fees and costs decision; v. * Reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * ************************************* Howard S. Gold, Wellesley Hills, MA, for petitioner.

Christine M. Becer, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On November 28, 2016, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012) alleging that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on November 19, 2014 caused her Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”). Pet. at ¶¶ 2, 11.

On November 18, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation in which they agreed to settle this case and described the settlement terms. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury or her current condition. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally. On November 20, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth in the stipulation.

Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal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). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.

Judgment entered on November 27, 2017.

On December 4, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses, requesting attorneys’ fees of $15,275.00 and attorneys’ costs of $1,083.51, for a total request of $16,358.51. Because counsel paid the filing fee, petitioner had no costs.

On December 18, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion explaining he is satisfied that this case meets the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1)(A)-(B). Resp. at 2. Respondent “respectfully recommends that the [undersigned] exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 3.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of “reasonable attorneys’ fees” and “other costs.”

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1). It is not necessary for a petitioner to prevail in the case-in-chief in order to receive a fee award as long as petitioner brought the claim in “good faith and there was a reasonable basis for the claim.” Id. The special master has “wide discretion in determining the reasonableness” of attorneys’ fees and costs. Perreira v. Sec’y of HHS, 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (1992), aff’d, 33 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 1994); see also Saxton ex rel. Saxton v. Sec’y of HHS, 3 F.3d 1517, 1519 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (“Vaccine program special masters are also entitled to use their prior experience in reviewing fee applications.”).

Based on her experience and review of the billing records submitted by petitioner, the undersigned finds petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs request reasonable. Therefore, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.

Accordingly, the court awards $16,358.51, representing attorneys’ fees and costs. The award shall be in the form of a check made payable jointly to petitioner and Gold Law Firm, LLC in the amount of $16,358.51.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 21, 2017 /s/ Laura D. Millman Laura D. Millman Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.