Sawyer v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1473V

BRANDY SAWYER, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: March 25, 2024

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Lauren Kells, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1 On September 25, 2019, Brandy Sawyer2 filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.3 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on October

1Because 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 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.

2 At the time of filing, Petitioner’s last name was Phipps, but the caption was amended after her name changed. ECF Nos. 18, 19.

National 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 (2018).

3, 2017. Petition at 1. On September 19, 2023, I issued a decision awarding damages to Petitioner based on Respondent’s proffer. ECF No. 42.

Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $20,687.45 (representing $20,248.40 for fees and $439.05 for costs). Petitioner’s Application for Attorneys’ Fees, filed Feb. 21, 2024, ECF No. 47. In accordance with General Order No. 9, counsel for Petitioner represents that Petitioner incurred no out-of- pocket expenses. Id. at 2.

Respondent reacted to the motion on March 1, 2024, 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 to my discretion. Respondent’s Response to Motion at 2-3, 3 n.2, ECF No. 48. Petitioner filed no reply.

I note this case required additional briefing regarding entitlement. See Petitioner’s Motion for a Factual Ruling, filed Jan. 17, 2022, ECF No. 32. Petitioner’s counsel expended approximately 11.6 hours drafting the motion for a ruling on the record. ECF No. 47 at 11. I find this amount of time to be reasonable and will award the attorney’s fees requested. (And all time billed to the matter was also reasonably incurred.)

Furthermore, Petitioner has provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs for all but expenses of $7.00 for postage. ECF No. 47 at 16-19. I will nevertheless allow reimbursement of these unsubstantiated costs. And Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought. Thus, I find the amount of costs sought to be reasonable.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successful claimants. Section 15(e). I award a total of $20,687.45 (representing $20,248.40 for fees and $439.05 for costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Amy A. Senerth. 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 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.