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UNPUBLISHED 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 & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner. 

Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for 

respondent. 

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 

 On October 25, 2016, 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 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 parties’ 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 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 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 

 On June 23, 2017, petitioner filed an unopposed 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 signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-ofpocket expenses. Thus, the total amount requested is $17,123.19. 

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 motion for attorneys’ fees and 

costs. 

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $17,123.194 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 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 and specifically 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 other 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 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.