Roman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: December 20, 2023 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALEXANDRA ROMAN, * UNPUBLISHED * Petitioner, * No. 18-1471V * Special Master Gowen v. * * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jessica E. Choper, Britcher Leone and Sergio, LLC, Glen Rock, NJ, for Petitioner.

Darryl R. Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On March 28, 2023, Alexandra Roman (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner’s Motion for Attorney Fees (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 56). For the reasons discussed below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and award a total of $96,458.85.

I. Procedural History On September 25, 2018, Alexandra Roman (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 28, 2015, she suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and Necrotizing Autoimmune Myositis (“NAM”). Id. On January 4, 2023, the parties filed a joint stipulation, which I adopted as my decision awarding compensation on the same day. (ECF No. 52).

I intend 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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).

On March 28, 2023, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner requests compensation for her attorney, Ms. Jessica Choper, in the total amount of $98,026.85, representing $70,152.50 in attorneys’ fees and $27,874.35 in costs. Fees App. at 2; Fees App. Ex. at 14. Pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants she has personally not incurred costs in pursuit of her claim. Id. at 2. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on April 11, 2023, stating 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. 57). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

The matter is now ripe for adjudication.

II. Analysis Under the Vaccine Act, the special master may award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs for a petition that does not result in an award of compensation but was filed in good faith and supported by a reasonable basis. § 300aa–15(e)(1). Here, because Petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant to a stipulation, she is entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed. Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

a. Attorneys’ Fees In reducing an award of fees, the goal is to achieve rough justice, and therefore a special master may take into account their overall sense of a case and may use estimates when reducing an award. See Florence v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-255V, 2016 WL 6459592, at *5 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 6, 2016) (citing Fox v. Vice, 563 U.S. 826, 838 (2011). It is well established that an application for fees and costs must sufficiently detail and explain the time billed so that a special master may determine, from the application and the case file, whether the amount requested is reasonable. Bell v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 18 Cl. Ct. 751, 760 (1989); Rodriguez, 2009 WL 2568468. Petitioner bears the burden of documenting the fees and costs claimed. Id. at *8.

Petitioner requests the following rates for the work of her counsel, Ms. Jessica Choper: $400.00 per hour for work performed in 2018 – 2023; for attorney E. Drew Britcher, the rate of $450 per hour for work performed from 2016 – 2017 and paralegal work at the rate of $175.00 per hour for work performed from 2016 – 2023. The rates requested for Ms. Choper are consistent with has been previously awarded for and I find them to be reasonable herein. The rate requested for Mr. Britcher, however, exceeds the range for attorneys with over 31 years’ experience for 2016 – 2017. Therefore, I will reduce the requested rate to $430.00 per hour for time billed in 2016 and $440.00 for time billed in 2017. Application of these rates results in a reduction of $95.00.

The requested paralegal rate exceeds what has been previously awarded rate of $145.00 per hour for work performed from 2016 – 2021. See Olexsa v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 18-1295V 2021 WL 1291784 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 21, 2021); Brophy v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 20-428V 2021 WL 3185327 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jun 21, 2021). I find no reason to deviate from the previously awarded rate and will reduce the paralegal rate to $145.00 per hour for time billed from 2016 – 2021. Application of these rates results in a reduction of $1,473.00.

The requested rate increases of $175.00 for 2022 – 2023 is reasonable and shall be awarded herein.

Turning next to review of the submitted billing statement, I find that the overall hours spent on this matter appear to be reasonable. The entries are reasonable and accurately describe the work being performed and the length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final attorneys’ fees of $68,584.50.

b. Attorneys’ Costs Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total attorneys’ costs in the amount of $27,874.35. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical records, the Court’s filing fee, and work performed by Petitioner’s medical experts, Dr. David Alxelrod, Dr. Samardeep Gupta, Dr. Sami Khella and Dr. Andrew Tarulli. Fees App. Ex. 1 Petitioner has provided adequate documentation supporting all of her requested costs and Respondent also has not identified any particular costs as objectionable. Petitioner is therefore awarded the full amount of costs sought.

III. Conclusion In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as follows: Attorneys’ Fees Requested $70,152.50 (Reduction of Fees) ($1,568.00) Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $68,584.50 Attorneys’ Costs Requested $27,874.35 (Reduction of Costs) - Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $27,874.35 Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs $96,458.85

Accordingly, I award the following: a lump sum in the amount of $96,458.85, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and her attorney, Ms. Jessica E. Choper.2 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/Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master

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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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).

Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).