In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

(Filed: June 15, 2020)

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

KATHLEEN SPAIN, * UNPUBLISHED 

* No. 18-737V

Petitioner, *

* Special Master Dorsey

v. *

 * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

* 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH *

AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

 *

 Respondent. *

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

Diana L. Stadelnikas, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Heather L. Pearlman, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

On May 24, 2018, Kathleen Spain filed a petition seeking compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).

2 Petitioner alleges that 

she suffered from optic neuritis as a result of receiving a Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis 

(“DTaP”) vaccination on May 15, 2017. Petition at 1. ECF No. 1. On February 7, 2020, petitioner 

moved for a decision denying compensation, stating that “[p]etitioner has filed all evidence 

Petitioner believes is relevant to this matter and does not intend to file further evidence” and thus 

petitioner “waives the right to any hearing or further proceedings in this matter” and “moves for 

a decision denying compensation.” Petitioner’s Motion for Decision Denying Compensation at 

 

1 This Decision will be posted on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance 

with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012). This means the Decision will be available to 

anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 44 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)B), however, the parties may object 

to the published Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, Under Vaccine Rule 

18(b), 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 

filed or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine 

Rule 18(b). Otherwise the whole decision will be available to the public in its current form. Id. 

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. §§ 300aa.
¶¶ 1-3. On February 7, 2020, the undersigned issued her Decision dismissing the petition for 

insufficient proof. (ECF No. 29).

On March 9, 2020, petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. Motion for 

Attorney Fees and Costs (ECF No. 35). Petitioner requests compensation in the amount of 

$33,619.73, representing $30,086.10 in attorneys’ fees and $3,533.63 in costs. Fees App. at 1 –

2. Pursuant to General Order No. 9, petitioner warrants that she has not personally incurred costs 

in pursuit of this litigation. Fees App. at 2. Respondent filed his response on March 19, 2020

indicating that he “is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and 

costs are met in this case.” Response, ECF No. 36, at 2. Petitioner filed a reply on March 19, 

2020, reiterating her belief that the requested attorneys’ fees and costs are reasonable.

For the reasons discussed below, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion and 

awards a total of $33,619.73.

I. Discussion

Under the Vaccine Act, the special master shall award reasonable attorneys’ fees and 

costs for any petition that results in an award of compensation. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1). 

When compensation is not awarded, the special master “may” award reasonable attorneys’ fees 

and costs “if the special master or court determines that the petition was brought in good faith 

and there was a reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.” Id. at 

§15(e)(1). In this case, although petitioner was denied compensation, the undersigned finds that 

both good faith and reasonable basis exist. Accordingly, a final award of attorneys’ fees and 

costs is proper.

a. Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees

The Federal Circuit has approved use of the lodestar approach to determine reasonable

attorney’s fees and costs under the Vaccine Act. Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515

F.3d 1343, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Using the lodestar approach, a court first determines “an

initial estimate of a reasonable attorney’s fee by ‘multiplying the number of hours reasonably 

expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly rate.’” Id. at 1347-58 (quoting Blum v.

Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). Then, the court may make an upward or downward 

departure from the initial calculation of the fee award based on other specific findings. Id. at 

1348.

Counsel must submit fee requests that include contemporaneous and specific billing 

records indicating the service performed, the number of hours expended on the service, and the 

name of the person performing the service. See Savin v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 85

Fed. Cl. 313, 316-18 (2008). Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are 

“excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 

3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)). It 

is “well within the special master’s discretion to reduce the hours to a number that, in [her] 

experience and judgment, [is] reasonable for the work done.” Id. at 1522. Furthermore, the 

special master may reduce a fee request sua sponte, apart from objections raised by respondent

and without providing a petitioner notice and opportunity to respond. See Sabella v. Sec’y of

Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl. 201, 209 (2009).
A special master need not engage in a line-by-line analysis of a petitioner’s fee 

application when reducing fees. Broekelschen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 102 Fed. Cl.

719, 729 (2011). Special masters may rely on their experience with the Vaccine Program and its 

attorneys to determine the reasonable number of hours expended. Wasson v. Sec’y of Health

and Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484 (Fed. Cl. Nov. 19, 1991) rev’d on other grounds and aff’d 

in relevant part, 988 F. 2d 131 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Just as “[t]rial courts routinely use their prior 

experience to reduce hourly rates and the number of hours clamed in attorney fee requests ... 

[v]accine program special masters are also entitled to use their prior experience in reviewing fee 

application.” Saxton, 3 F. 3d at 1521.

i. Reasonable Hourly Rates

Petitioner requests the following hourly rates for the work of her counsel, Ms. Diana 

Stadelnikas: $372.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, $396.00 per hour for work performed 

in 2018, $415.00 per hour for work performed in 2019, and $440.00 per hour for work performed 

in 2020. Fees App. Ex. 1 at 18. These rates are consistent with what Ms. Stadelnikas has 

previously been awarded for her Vaccine Program work, and the undersigned finds them to be 

reasonable herein.

ii. Reasonable Hours Expended

The undersigned has reviewed the submitted billing entries and finds the total number of 

hours billed to be reasonable. The billing entries accurately reflect the nature of the work 

performed and the undersigned does not find any of the entries to be objectionable. Respondent 

also has not indicated that he finds any of the entries to be objectionable either. Accordingly, 

petitioner is entitled to the full amount of attorneys’ fees sought, $30,086.10.

b. Attorneys’ Costs

Petitioner requests a total of $3,533.63 in attorneys’ costs. This amount is comprised of 

acquiring medical records, postage, the Court’s filing fee, and a retainer paid to a potential 

expert. Fees App. Ex. 2 at 1. All of these costs are typical of Vaccine Program litigation and 

petitioner has provided adequate documentation supporting them. Accordingly, the requested 

attorneys’ costs are reasonable, and petitioner shall be fully reimbursed.

II. Conclusion

Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that it is reasonable compensate

petitioner and her counsel as follows:

Attorneys’ Fees Requested $30,086.10

(Total Reduction from Billing Hours) -
Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $30,086.10

Attorneys’ Costs Requested $3,533.63

(Reduction of Costs) -

Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $3,533.63

Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Awarded $33,619.73

Accordingly, the undersigned awards $33,619.73in attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form 

of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Ms. Diana Stadelnikas. 

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

of Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora Beth Dorsey

Nora Beth Dorsey

Special Master

 

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

the right to seek review.