In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

Filed: July 17, 2020

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

SETH MARTINS, * UNPUBLISHED

*

Petitioner, * No. 17-1741V

* Special Master Gowen

v. *

 * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

 *

 Respondent. *

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

Leah V. Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Darryl R. Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

On March 25, 2020, Seth Martins (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. 

Petitioner’s Motion for Attorney Fees (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 39). For the reasons discussed 

below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and awards a total of 

$40,501.02.

I. Procedural History

On November 6, 2017, Petitioner filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program.

2 Petitioner alleged that he suffered Bell’s palsy as a result of receiving an 

Flu-Mist vaccine on November 7, 2014. Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1). On September 23, 2019, the 

parties filed a stipulation, which I adopted as my Decision awarding compensation on the same 

 

1

I intend to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the ruling 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. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this 

case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the EGovernment Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic 

Government Services).

2 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, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (“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.
2

day. (ECF No. 35).

On March 25, 2020, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner 

requests compensation for his attorney, Ms. Leah Durant, in the total amount of $40,501.02, 

representing $33,527.30 in attorneys’ fees and $6,973.72 in costs. Fees App. at 1.

3 Pursuant to 

General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants she has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of his

claim. Id. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on March 24, 2020, stating that “Respondent is 

satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.”

Response at 2 (ECF No. 56). Petitioner filed a reply on March 25, reiterating his belief that the 

requested amount of attorneys’ fees and costs was reasonable. Reply at 2, ECF No. 78,

The matter is now ripe for adjudication.

II. Analysis

Under the Vaccine Act, the special master may award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs 

for a petition that does not result in an award of compensation but was filed in good faith and 

supported by a reasonable basis. § 300aa–15(e)(1). Here, because Petitioner was awarded 

compensation, she is entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and 

the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 

484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is 

filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent 

of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. 

Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed. 

Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

a. Attorneys’ Fees

Petitioner requests the following rates for the work of his counsel, Ms. Leah Durant: 

$350.00 per hour for work performed in 2016, $365.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, 

$377.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, and $380.00 per hour for work performed in 2019. 

These rates are consistent with what Ms. Durant has previously been awarded for her Vaccine 

Program work, and the undersigned finds them to be reasonable herein. See, e.g., Durand v. Sec’y 

of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-1153V, 2020 WL 639372, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 16, 

2020).

Turning next to review of the submitted billing statement, I find that the overall hours spent 

on this matter appear to be reasonable. The entries are reasonable and accurately describe the work 

being performed and the length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not 

identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final 

 

3 Petitioner’s motion originally sought attorneys’ costs in the amount of $3,973.72. At that time Petitioner had 

warranted that he was waiting on an invoice from his expert, Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, and would update the 

requested costs once it had been received. Fees App. at 1. On April 5, 2020, Petitioner filed the updated information, 

amending the requested attorneys’ costs to $6,973.72. (ECF No. 42).
3

attorneys’ fees of $44,638.60.

b. Attorneys’ Costs

Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v. 

Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total 

attorneys’ costs in the amount of $6,973.72. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical 

records, the Court’s filing fee, expert records review by Dr. Catherine Shaer, and work performed 

by Petitioner’s medial expert, Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne. Fees App. Ex. 2 at 2. Petitioner has provided 

adequate supporting documentation for all the costs, and they appear to be reasonable upon review. 

Accordingly, Petitioner is awarded the full amount of attorneys’ costs sought.

III. Conclusion

In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is 

GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as 

follows:

Attorneys’ Fees Requested $33,527.30

(Reduction of Fees) -

Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $33,527.30

Attorneys’ Costs Requested $6,973.72

(Reduction of Costs) -

Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $6,973.72

Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs $40,501.02

Accordingly, I award a lump sum in the amount of $40,501.02, representing 

reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to 

Petitioner and his attorney, Ms. Leah Durant.

4

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the 

court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 

4 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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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).

5 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine 

Rule 11(a).
4

/s/Thomas L. Gowen

 Thomas L. Gowen

Special Master