In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1471V

(not to be published)

PATRICIA PIAZZA,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran

Filed: May 19, 2020

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Attorney’s Fees and Costs

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

Gabrielle Manganiello Fielding, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for 

Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

On October 6, 2017, Patricia Piazza, (“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 a shoulder injury related to 

vaccine administration as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 16, 2014.

(Petition at 1). On February 12, 2020, a decision was issued awarding compensation to 

Petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 75). 

 1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 24, 

2020, (ECF No. 80), requesting a total award of $40,495.30 (representing $38,230.95 in 

fees and $2,254.19 in costs). In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner filed a 

signed statement indicating that Petitioner incurred $10.16 in out-of-pocket expenses. 

(ECF No. 81). Respondent reacted to the motion on April 28, 2020, indicating that she 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. 82). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

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 $40,495.30 as follows:

• A lump sum of $40,485.14, representing reimbursement for fees and costs, 

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

and;

• A lump sum of $10.16, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s costs, 

in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 

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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran

Chief Special Master

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

right to seek review.