In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 16-1007V 

Filed: July 31, 2017 

UNPUBLISHED 

JANE ROCHA-DEMELO,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. 

Colleen Clemons Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 

 On August 15, 2016, Jane Rocha-Demelo (“petitioner”) filed a petition for 

compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. 

§300aa-10, et seq.,

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(the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered a shoulder 

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

(“flu”) vaccination on November 1, 2014. Petition at 1. On May 16, 2017, the 

undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on 

respondent’s proffer to which petitioner agreed. (ECF No. 26.) 

 On July 21, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. 

Petitioner’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Pet. Motion”) (ECF No. 30.) 

Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,675.90 and attorneys’ costs in 

 

1

 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 

undersigned intends 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). 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. 

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).
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the amount of $794.17. Id. at 1. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner's 

counsel represents that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, the total 

amount requested is $16,470.07. Id. 

On July 21, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No. 

32.) Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13 

contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an 

award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 1. Respondent adds, however, 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. 

On July 31, 2017, the OSM staff attorney managing this SPU case inquired by 

email, copying respondent’s counsel on the correspondence, whether petitioner would 

be filing a reply in this case. See Informal Remark, dated July 31, 2017. Petitioner’s 

counsel replied that petitioner would not be filing a 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 $16,470.073 as a lump 

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

Conway, Homer, P.C.

 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 

 

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 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. 
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