Jennings v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1444V

JENNIFER JENNINGS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: July 18, 2024

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Amy Collignon Gunn, Simon Law Firm, PC, St. Louis, MO, for Petitioner.

Camille Jordan Webster, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1 On June 7, 2021, Jennifer Jennings 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration resulting from adverse effects of an influenza vaccination received on November 6, 2019. Petition, ECF No. 1. On January 23, 2024, I issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. ECF No. 33.

Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 inf ormation, 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 f rom public access.

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018).

Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $7,404.52 (representing $6,670.00 in fees plus $734.52 in costs). Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Motion”) filed April 3, 2024, ECF No. 36. Furthermore, counsel for Petitioner represents that Petitioner incurred no personal out-of-pocket expenses. Id. Respondent reacted to the motion on April 4, 2024, reporting that he is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion. Motion at 2-3, ECF No. 37. Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. Petitioner has requested the hourly rate of $400 for all time billed by attorney Amy Collignon Gunn in the 2020-24 timeframe. In my experience, the request appears reasonable overall, and I find no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates. Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought.

I have also reviewed the requested costs, but find that Petitioner’s counsel has not substantiated them with the required supporting documentation, such as an invoice or proof of payment. See ECF No. 36-1. I will nevertheless reimburse these costs in full, since the amount requested is not particularly large. But Petitioner’s counsel should be aware that any future requests for costs may result in a curtailed (or denied) award for failure to include the required supporting documentation. See Guidelines for Practice Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program at 75-78 (emphasis added). 3 The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successful claimants. Section 15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I award a total of $7,404.52 (representing $6,670.00 in fees plus $734.52 in costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Amy Collignon Gunn. In the absence of a timely- filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 4

The guidelines f or Practice Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program can be f ound at: https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/vaccine guidelines 20240318.pdf Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by f iling a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master