In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1547V 

Filed: May 6, 2019

UNPUBLISHED

MELANIE MACHADO, 

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

Bruce William Slane, Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for 

petitioner.

Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for 

respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

 

On October 17, 2017, 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her November 28, 2016 influenza (“flu”) 

vaccination. Petition at 1. On January 24, 2019, the undersigned issued a decision 

awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. ECF No. 34. 

 

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 

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. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the 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 in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal 

Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services).

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 

On February 5, 2019, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. ECF 

No. 38. Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $21,242.30 and attorneys’ 

costs in the amount of $769.75. Id. at 1. In compliance with General Order #9, 

petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket 

expenses. Id. at 2. Thus, the total amount requested is $22,012.05. 

 

On February 15, 2019, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. ECF 

No. 39. Respondent states that he “is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award 

of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully 

recommends that the Chief Special Master exercise her discretion and determine a 

reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 3. 

Petitioner has filed no reply 

The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s 

request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, and the 

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

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

petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. 

 

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $22,012.053 as a lump 

sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel 

Bruce William Slane. 

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora Beth Dorsey

 Nora Beth Dorsey

 Chief Special Master

 

3 This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award encompasses all 

charges by the attorney against a client, “advanced costs” as well as fees for legal services rendered. 

Furthermore, § 15(e)(3) prevents an attorney from charging or collecting fees (including costs) that would 

be in addition to the amount awarded herein. See generally Beck v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,

924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).

4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice 

renouncing the right to seek review.