In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 18-0817V

(not to be published)

CALVIN JOHNSON,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran

Filed: June 29, 2020

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Attorney’s Fees and Costs

Joseph Alexander Vuckovich, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for 

Petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

On June 8, 2018, Calvin Johnson 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 he suffered Guillain-Barre syndrome as a result of 

an influenza vaccination received on October 18, 2016. (Petition at 1). On February 10, 

2020, a decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’ 

stipulation. (ECF No. 49).

 1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). 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.

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

Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated April 28, 

2020, (ECF No. 54), requesting a total award of $34,328.45 (representing $33, 074.70 in 

fees and $1,253.75 in costs). Pursuant to General Order #9, Petitioner filed a signed 

statement indicating he incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF No. 54-3). Respondent 

reacted to the motion on May 11, 2020, indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory 

requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met in this case and defers to 

the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be awarded. (ECF No. 55). Petitioner 

filed a reply requesting that the Court award Petitioner all fees and costs requested in 

Petitioner’s Application. (ECF No. 56).

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my 

experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested 

hours or rates. 

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. 

§15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs.

I award a total of $34,328.45 (representing $33,074.70 in fees and $1,253.75 in costs) as 

a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel.

3

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.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran

Chief Special Master

 3 Petitioner requests checks be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota 

Florida, 34236.

4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their 

right to seek review.