Miller v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-0594V

KATHERINE MILLER, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: June 13, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Laura Levenberg, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Mitchell Jones, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1 On May 31, 2022, Katherine Miller 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 Table injury – shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) - as the result of influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on December 3, 2020. Petition at 1. On January 27, 2025, I issued a decision finding Petitioner entitled to compensation and awarding damages, following briefing and Expedited Motions Day argument by the parties. ECF No. 36.

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.

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).

Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $28,312.76 (representing $27,154.30 for attorney’s fees and $1,158.46 in attorney’s costs). Petitioner’s Application for Attorneys’ Fees, filed Apr. 8, 2025, ECF No. 43. 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 April 9, 2025, 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. 44. Petitioner has not filed a reply.

The rates requested for work performed through 2025 are reasonable and consistent with our prior determinations, and will therefore be adopted.

I also note this case required additional briefing regarding entitlement and damages. See Petitioner’s Motion for a Ruling on the Record Regarding Damages (“Motion”), filed Feb. 15, 2024, ECF No. 30; Petitioner’s Reply to Respondent’s Response to Motion, filed Mar. 27, 2024, ECF No. 33; Petitioner’s Minute Entry, dated Jan. 27, 2025 (for January 24, 2025 expedited hearing). Petitioner’s counsel expended approximately 17.0 hours drafting the entitlement and damages brief and 6.8 hours drafting the responsive entitlement and damages brief, for a combined total of 23.8 hours. ECF No. at 11-12. I find this time to have been reasonably incurred. (And all time billed to the matter was also reasonably incurred.)

Furthermore, Petitioner has provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs, ECF No. 43 at 14-24. And Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought. ECF No. 44. I have reviewed the requested costs and find them to be reasonable.

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 $28,312.76 (representing $27,154.30 for attorney’s fees and $1,158.46 in attorney’s costs) to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. 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.3

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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