In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 13-083V 

(Not to be published) 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

 * 

KEBEDE GEBREYES, * 

 * 

 Petitioner, * Filed: January 7, 2015 

 * 

 v. * Decision; Attorneys’ 

 * Fees & Costs 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * 

HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

 * 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner. 

Linda Renzi, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. 

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

On January 31, 2013, Kebede Gebreyes filed a petition seeking compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Thereafter, on August 26, 2014, the parties 

filed a stipulation settling the case and detailing the amount to be awarded to Petitioner. I 

subsequently issued a decision finding the parties’ stipulation to be reasonable and granting 

Petitioner an award as outlined in the stipulation. 

 

1

 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted on the website of 

the United States Court of Federal Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 

§ 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To 

do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any 

information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is 

privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute 

a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the decision will be available to the 

public. Id.

2

 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury 

Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa-10 – 34 (2006)) 

[hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to ' 300aa of the Act. 
2 

On December 10, 2014, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. The 

motion indicates that the attorneys’ fees in this case are $13,220.70, the attorneys’ costs are 

$1,196.98, and Petitioner’s cost are $350.00. Respondent’s counsel did not formally respond to 

the motion, but has since informed my chambers that this amount represents a sum to which 

Respondent does not object. In addition, and in compliance with General Order #9, Petitioner 

and Counsel filed a statement regarding costs accrued. 

I approve the requested amount for attorneys’ fees and costs as reasonable. Accordingly, 

an award of $350.00 should be made in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, and an award 

of $14,417.68 should be made in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and 

Petitioner’s counsel, Ronald Homer. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to 

RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with 

the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 /s/ Brian H. Corcoran

 Brian H. Corcoran 

 Special Master 

 

3

 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or 

separately) a notice renouncing their right to seek review.