Court Opinion

ID: 4239258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-25 17:04:12.535169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:42:33.412090
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-256V
                                      Filed: July 20, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    MAUREEN LI,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Amber Diane Wilson, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On February 24, 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 a shoulder injury as a result of her
October 23, 2014 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. On March 31, 2017, the undersigned
issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ Stipulation.
(ECF No. 37.)

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
       On July 17, 2017, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. (ECF No. 41.)3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $14,411.25
and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,132.47. (Id. at 41.) In compliance with
General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred
no out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, the total amount requested is $15,543.72.

      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.

       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 $15,543.724 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Amber Diane Wilson.

        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 “[r]espondent does not object
to the overall amount sought, as it is not an unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings
in this case to date. Respondent’s lack of objection to the amount sought in this case should not be
construed as admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours
billed, or the other litigation related costs.” (ECF No. 41 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.

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