Sites v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-492V

MICHELE SITES, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: August 15, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.

Madylan Louise Yarc, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1 On April 11, 2023, Michele Sites 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 following a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine she received on May 10, 2021. Petition, ECF No. 1. On May 23, 2025, I issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. ECF No. 40.

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 $38,801.47 (representing $38,112.90 in fees plus $688.57 in costs). Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Motion”) filed May 27, 2025, ECF No. 44. Furthermore, Petitioner filed a signed statement representing that no personal out-of-pocket expenses were incurred. Motion, 44-4 at 1.

Respondent reacted to the motion on June 10, 2025, indicating 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. Response at 2, 4.

ECF No. 45. Petitioner indicated thereafter that she does not intend to file a substantive reply. ECF No. 46.

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. The rates requested for work performed through the end of 2024 are reasonable and consistent with our prior determinations and will therefore be adopted. Petitioner has requested an hourly rate of $570.00 for 2025 work performed by attorney John Howie, Jr., representing a rate increase of $50.00 from the previous year. Petitioner has also requested an hourly rate of $195.00 for paralegal work performed in 2025, representing a $15.00 increase from the previous year. I find the proposed rates to be reasonable and hereby award them herein. And all time billed to the matter was also reasonably incurred.

Furthermore, Petitioner has provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs. Motion, 44-3 at 1-23. Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought. I find the requested costs reasonable and hereby award them in full.

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. Petitioner is awarded attorneys’ fees and costs in the total amount of $38,801.47 (representing $38,112.90 in fees plus $688.57 in 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 IT IS SO ORDERED.

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