United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Leblanc v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided August 15, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1076V

(not to be published)

JOSEPH ANDRE BERNARD LEBLANC, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, v. Filed: July 15, 2022 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU); HUMAN SERVICES, Attorney’s Fees and Costs

Respondent.

Christopher E. Hultquist, Law Office of Christopher E. Hultquist, Esq., Providence, RI,, for Petitioner.

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1 On July 25, 2019, Joseph Andrew Bernard LeBlanc 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 alleges that he suffered from Guillain- Barre Syndrome and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy caused by an influenza vaccine administered on October 20, 2018. (Petition at 1-2). On April 29, 2022, a decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 47).

Petitioner filed a motion for interim attorney’s fees and costs, dated September 1, 2021 (ECF No. 31), requesting an award of $41,528.79 (representing $37,487.30 in fees and $4,041.40 in costs). On September 2, 2021, Respondent filed a response requesting the Court exercise its discretion in awarding attorney’s fees and costs. (ECF No. 32). Petitioner filed an amended motion for attorney’s fees and costs on May 5, 2022, revising the total amount requested to $63,020.31 (representing $58,959.40 in fees and $4,060.91). (ECF No. 51). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that he incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of $1,800.00. (ECF No. 51-6). Respondent reacted to the amended motion on May 6, 2022, indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met in this case, but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded at the Court’s discretion. (ECF No. 52). On May 7, 2022, Petitioner filed a reply that the application for fees and costs in his original motion be awarded in full. (ECF No. 53).

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Section 15(e). Accordingly, Petitioner is awarded the total amount of $64,820.31 3 as follows:

• A lump sum of $63,020.31, representing reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Christopher E. Hultquist; and

• A lump sum of $1,800.00, representing reimbursement for petitioner’s costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). This means the Decision 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section 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), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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