In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 14-1110V 

 Filed: March 24, 2016 

UNPUBLISHED 

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

OLGA MOLINA, * 

 * 

 Petitioner, * 

 v. * 

 * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

 * 

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

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner. 

Glenn A. MacLeod, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 

 On November 14, 2014, Ms. Molina 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 alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as 

a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 5, 2012. Petition at 1. 

On December 1, 2015, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to 

petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 29). 

 On February 15, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. 

(ECF No. 34). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $23,475.00, and 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 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). 
2 

attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,418.68, for a total amount of $24,893.68. Id. at 1-2. 

In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner 

incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. 

On February 29, 2016, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF 

No. 35). 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 2. Respondent adds, however, that she “is 

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

this case.” Id. at n.2. Additionally, she states that “[r]espondent’s estimation of 

reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for the present case roughly fall between 

$18,000.00, to $21,000.00,” but provides no basis for (or explanation for how she 

arrived at) this proposed range. Id. 

On February 29, 2016, petitioner filed a reply. (ECF No. 36). Petitioner argues 

that respondent has provided “no precise objection” but only “a self-serving ‘survey’ of 

what the Respondent believes the range for fees and costs in this case should be.” Id. 

at 2-3. Petitioner includes a list of the attorneys’ fees and costs awarded petitioner’s 

counsel since 2009.3 

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. 

Petitioner requests additional attorneys’ fees in the amount of $1,100.00 (four 

hours of time) for preparing the reply. Id. at 6. She has not, however, provided specific 

billing entries describing how this time was expended. However, because petitioner’s 

counsel has filed a near-identical reply in other SPU cases, the undersigned does not 

find the number of hours requested for the preparation of the reply brief to be 

reasonable in this case. 4 The undersigned reduces the requested hours to two hours 

and awards $550.00, for the preparation of petitioner’s reply brief. Thus, the total 

amount awarded for attorneys’ fees and costs is $25,443.68. 

 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. 

 

3 Although helpful information, the undersigned does note that many of the cases cited involved different 

circumstances than the present case. 

4 In future cases counsel may be required to substantiate similar requests with detailed billing records. 
3 

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $25,443.68,5 as a lump 

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

Lawrence Cohan. 

 The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.6

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

s/Nora Beth Dorsey 

 Nora Beth Dorsey 

 Chief Special Master 

 

5 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). 

6 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.