Buck v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: August 14, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * MARTHA BUCK, * UNPUBLISHED * Petitioner, * No. 21-2246V * v. * Special Master Dorsey * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Catherine Elizabeth Stolar, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1 On December 1, 2021, Martha Buck (“Petitioner”) filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury Program 2 alleging that she suffered Bell’s Palsy as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on December 5, 2018. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1). A decision based on stipulation issued on December 3, 2024. Decision Based on Stipulation dated Dec. 3, 2024 (ECF No. 59).

Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims’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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2018) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this Decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.

On April 22, 2025, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Petitioner’s Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Pet. App.”), filed Apr. 22, 2025 (ECF No. 64). Petitioner requests compensation in the amount of $57,523.55, representing $41,161.30 in attorneys’ fees and $16,362.25 in costs. Id. at 1. Petitioner warrants that she has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of her claim for compensation. Id. at 1-2. Respondent filed his response on April 28, 2025, stating he “is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.” Respondent’s Response to Pet. App. (“Resp. Response”), filed Apr. 28, 2025, at 2 (ECF No. 65). Petitioner filed a reply on May 19, 2025, reiterating her request. Pet. Reply to Resp. Response, filed May 19, 2025 (ECF No. 66).

The matter is now ripe for disposition.

Petitioner requests the following hourly rates for the work of her counsel: for Ms. Leah Durant, $380.00 per hour for work performed in 2019, $395.00 per hour for work performed in 2020, $420.00 per hour for work performed in 2021, $441.00 per hour for work performed in 2022, $463.00 per hour for work performed in 2023, $486.00 per hour for work performed in 2024, and $550.00 per hour for work performed in 2025; for Mr. Richard Armada, $400.00 per hour for work performed in 2021, $420.00 per hour for work performed in 2022, $441.00 per hour for work performed in 2023, and $463.00 per hour for work performed in 2024; and for Mr. Mike Milmoe, $525.00 per hour for work performed in 2022 and $553.00 per hour for work performed in 2023. Petitioner also requests the following rates for work of their counsel’s paralegals: $160.00 per hour for work performed in 2020, $165.00 per hour for work performed in 2021, $173.00 per hour for work performed in 2022, $181.00 per hour for work performed in 2023, $190.00 per hour for work performed in 2024, and $203.00 per hour for work performed in 2025.

The undersigned finds the rates are largely consistent with what counsel have previously been awarded for their Vaccine Program work. However, a small reduction is required for Ms. Durant’s 2025 rate, which was previously been awarded as $530.00. This results in a reduction of $70.00. 3 The undersigned has reviewed the submitted billing entries and finds the total number of hours billed to be reasonable and will award them in full. 4 Lastly, the undersigned has reviewed the requested costs and finds them to be reasonable and supported with appropriate documentation. Accordingly, the full amount of costs shall be awarded.

Therefore, the undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates, or the requested costs.

($550.00 - $530.00) x 3.5 hours = $70.00.

The undersigned will not deduct Petitioner’s fees request for billing entries for noncompensable tasks because she finds the overall amount requested reasonable. However, counsel is again warned against billing for filing documents in the future. The undersigned may deduct for this in the future.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 15(e).

Based on the reasonableness of Petitioner’s request, the undersigned GRANTS IN PART Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Accordingly, the undersigned awards: Petitioner is awarded attorneys’ fees and costs in the total amount of $57,453.55, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with this Decision. 5 IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.