# In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 16-1389V Filed: July 7, 2017

UNPUBLISHED

RITU BHATIA-NUNEZ,

Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & T oale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner. Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Just ice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNE YS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On October 25, 2016, petit ioner filed a petition fo r compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensat ion Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome following an influenza vaccination. On May 11, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parti es’ stipulation. (ECF No. 20.)

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Cour t of Federal Claims'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 inform ation, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, t he 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 Ac t will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).2 On June 23, 2017, petitioner filed an unoppo sed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No. 24.) 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $16,306.00 and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $817.19. ( Id. at 1.) In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a si gned statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-ofpocket expenses. Thus, the tota l amount request ed is $17,123.19.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 15(e). Based on the reasonab leness of petitioner’s reques t and the lack of opposition from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and

costs.

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $17,123.19 4 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel

Alison H. Haskins.

The clerk of the court shall ent er 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 and spec ifically states that respondent has no objection to the overall amount sought. The motion states that 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 othe r litigation related costs. (ECF No. 24 at 2.)

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 co sts” as well as fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, § 15(e)(3) prevents an attorney from char ging 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 c an be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.