# In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 15

- 1306 V

Filed: July 13, 2016

U npublished

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GIOVANNA VILLAGGIO

, *

* Petitioner, *

v. *

* Attorney s’ Fees and Costs;

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

AND HUMAN SERVICES

, *

* Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * John R. Howie, Jr., Howie Law, P.C., Dallas, TX , for petitioner. Douglas Ross, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY S’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey

, Chief Special Master:

On November 2, 2015

, p etitioner 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 a shoulder injury related to her receipt of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 14, 2012

. On June 30, 2016

, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ joint stipulation

. (ECF No. 23 ).

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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 wi th

the E

- Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of

Electronic Government Serv ices). 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 On July 11, 2016

, petitioner filed a n unoppose d motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No. 27 ). 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $ 14,000.00

. Id. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incur red no out

- of

- pocket expenses.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition from respondent , the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s mo tion for attorneys’ fees and

costs.

Accordingly , the undersigned award s the total of $ 14,000.00 4 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel John R. Howie, Jr

.

T he clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

3 The motion was filed as an unopposed motion , wherein petitioner states that respondent has no obj ection to the requested amount

. However, respondent’s lack of objection to the amount sought in this case should not be construed as an admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the other litigation related costs.

4 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).

5 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.