In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 18-1373V

(not to be published)

JANICE RICHARDSON,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran

Date: October 29, 2019

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.

Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

On September 7, 2018, Janice Richardson, (“Petitioner”) 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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder 

injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) 

vaccination administered on September 21, 2017. (Petition at 1). On September 5, 2019, 

a decision was issued by then-Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey, awarding 

compensation to petitioner based the respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 30). 

Petitioner has now filed a motion requesting attorney’s fees and costs, dated 

October 4, 2019 (ECF No. 34.), requesting a total award of $17,480.24 (representing 

 

1 Although I have not designated this Decision for publication, it will be made available 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). 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. 

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for 

ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).
2

$16,606.40 in fees plus $873.84 in costs). Pursuant to General Order #9, counsel for 

Petitioner represents that Petitioner has not incurred out-of-pocket costs in pursuit of this 

litigation. Id. Respondent reacted to the motion on October 17, 2019, indicating that he 

is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are 

met in this case, and deferring to the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be 

awarded. (ECF No. 35). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter. 

 

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 

15(e). I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s initial request, and 

based on my discretion and Vaccine Program experience, I find the requested hourly 

rates and work performed to be reasonable. I therefore approve the requested amount 

for attorney’s fees and costs. 

Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. I 

award a total of $17,480.24 (representing $16,606.40 in attorney’s fees and $873.84 in 

costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and her counsel, 

Jeffrey S. Pop, Esq. In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B 

to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran

Chief Special Master

 

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.