Woodbeck v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: March 16, 2021 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED JESSICA WOODBECK and * MICHAEL BIAS as legal * representatives of H.H.W., an infant, * deceased, * * Petitioners, * No. 18-488V * Special Master Oler v. * * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sylvia Chin-Caplan, Law Office of Sylvia Chin-Caplan, Boston, MA, for Petitioners.

Ryan D. Pyles, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On April 3, 2018, Jessica Woodbeck and Michael Bias (“Petitioners”), as legal representatives of H.H.W., filed a petition for compensation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioners alleged that H.H.W. died as a result of the administration of the DTap, Hep B, IPV, Hib, pneumococcal conjugate, and/or Rotavirus Vaccinations H.H.W. received on April 7, 2016. Following the Federal Circuit’s decision in Boatmon v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 941 F.3d 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2019), Petitioners moved to voluntarily dismiss their claim on April 29, 2020. ECF No. 34. On April 30, 2020, the undersigned dismissed the petition for insufficient proof. ECF No. 35.

The undersigned intends to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims'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).

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.

On November 23, 2020, Petitioners filed an application for final attorneys’ fees and costs.

ECF No. 40 (“Fees App.”). Petitioners request total attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $16,592.58, representing $16,481.60 in attorneys’ fees and $110.98 in attorneys’ costs. Fees App. at 1. Pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioners state that they have incurred costs of $400.00 related to this litigation. Id. at 2. Respondent filed a response on November 24, 2020, indicating that “Respondent is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.” Response at 2, ECF No. 41. Petitioners did not file a reply thereafter.

This matter is now ripe for consideration.

I. Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Section 15(e) (1) of the Vaccine Act allows for the Special Master to award “reasonable attorneys' fees, and other costs.” § 300aa–15(e)(1)(A)–(B). Petitioners are entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if they are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act, or, even if they are unsuccessful, they are eligible so long as the Special Master finds that the petition was filed in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Here, although the petition was eventually dismissed, the undersigned does not doubt the good faith of the claim, and the matter had a reasonable basis to proceed for as long as it did. Accordingly, Petitioners are entitled to a final award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

It is “well within the special master's discretion” to determine the reasonableness of fees.

Saxton v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521–22 (Fed. Cir. 1993); see also Hines v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 22 Cl. Ct. 750, 753 (1991). (“[T]he reviewing court must grant the special master wide latitude in determining the reasonableness of both attorneys' fees and costs.”). Applications for attorneys' fees must include contemporaneous and specific billing records that indicate the work performed and the number of hours spent on said work. See Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313, 316–18 (2008).

Reasonable hourly rates are determined by looking at the “prevailing market rate” in the relevant community. See Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 (1984). The “prevailing market rate” is akin to the rate “in the community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience and reputation.” Id. at 895, n.11. The petitioner bears the burden of providing adequate evidence to prove that the requested hourly rate is reasonable. Id. a. Reasonable Hourly Rates Petitioners request compensation for their counsel at the following rates: for Ms. Sylvia Chin-Caplan, $414.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, $429.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, $445.00 per hour for work performed in 2019, and $461.00 per hour for work performed in 2020; and for Mr. Timothy Mason, $238.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, $247.00 per hour for work performed in 2019, and $253.00 per hour for work performed in 2020. These rates are consistent with what counsel have previously been awarded for their Vaccine Program work, and the undersigned finds them to be reasonable herein.

b. Reasonable Hours Expended Attorneys' fees are awarded for the “number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are “excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton, 3 F.3d at 1521 (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)). Additionally, it is well-established that billing for administrative/clerical tasks is not permitted in the Vaccine Program. Rochester v. United States, 18 Cl. Ct. 379, 387 (1989); Arranga v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 02-1616V, 2018 WL 2224959, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 12, 2018).

The overall hours spent on this matter appear to be reasonable. The undersigned has reviewed the billing entries and finds that they adequately describe the work done on the case and the amount of time spent on that work. None of the entries appear objectionable, nor has Respondent identified any entries as objectionable. Accordingly, Petitioners are awarded final attorneys’ fees in the amount of $16,481.60.

c. Attorneys’ Costs Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of attorneys’ costs must be reasonable.

Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioners request a total of $110.98 in attorneys’ costs. Fees App. at 22. This amount is comprised medical records and postage. All of these costs are typical of Vaccine Program litigation and are reasonable in the undersigned’s experience, and Petitioners have provided adequate documentation supporting the request. Petitioners are therefore awarded the full amount of costs sought.

d. Petitioners’ Costs Pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioners warrant they have personally incurred costs of $400.00 related to their claim. This amount is for the filing fee, which is reasonable and shall be fully reimbursed.

II. Conclusion In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned has reviewed the billing records and costs in this case and finds that Petitioners’ request for fees and costs is reasonable. The undersigned finds that it is reasonable to compensate Petitioners and their counsel as follows: Attorneys’ Fees Requested $16,481.60 (Reduction to Fees) - Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $16,481.60 Attorneys’ Costs Requested $110.98 (Reduction to Costs) - Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $110.98 Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs $16,592.58 Petitioners’ Costs $400.00 Total Amount Awarded $16,992.58 Accordingly, the undersigned awards the following: 1) a lump sum in the amount of $16,592.58, representing reimbursement for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioners and Petitioners’ counsel of record, Ms. Sylvia Chin-Caplan; and 2) a lump sum in the amount of $400.00, representing reimbursement for Petitioners’ Costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioners.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.3 IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Katherine E. Oler Katherine E. Oler Special Master

Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.

Vaccine Rule 11(a).