Court Opinion

ID: 4262725
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-10 20:04:26.007403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:06.557387
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                               Filed: March 16, 2018

* * * * * * *                   *    *   *    *    *   *
BRYAN BRUTSCH,                                         *                  UNPUBLISHED
                                                       *
                  Petitioner,                          *                  No. 16-874V
                                                       *
v.                                                     *                  Special Master Gowen
                                                       *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                    *                  Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                    *                  Special Master’s Discretion.
                                                       *
                  Respondent.                          *
*    * *     *    * * * *            *   *    *    *   *

Isaiah R. Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Mallori B. Openchowski, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On July 25, 2016, Bryan Brutsch (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation pursuant
to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner received an influenza (“flu”)
vaccination on or about November 12, 2014. Petitioner alleges that as a consequence of the flu
vaccine, he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and suffered the residual effects of that
injury for more than six months. On September 1, 2017, I issued a decision awarding petitioner
compensation based on the parties’ stipulation. Decision (ECF No. 29).

        On February 14, 2018, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner’s
(“Pet.”) Motion (“Mot.”) (ECF No. 34). The motion included petitioner’s signed statement that
he did not incur costs related to the prosecution of this claim, in accordance with General Order
No. 9. Pet. Mot., Pet. Ex. 9.

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website can be accessed at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. Before
the decision is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any
information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged
or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed
redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the decision
will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id.
2
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. §
300aa.

                                                           1
        On February 21, 2018, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. Respondent’s
Response (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 1. Further, respondent “is satisfied the statutory requirements
for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully
recommends that the Special Master exercise his discretion and determine a reasonable award for
attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 3.

        A preliminary review of the motion indicated that petitioner requested rates for one
attorney, Ms. Amber Wilson at the firm of Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, in excess of what
the undersigned and other special masters have found to be reasonable. On February 22, 2018, I
ordered petitioner to file supporting documentation for Ms. Wilson’s requested rates or an
amended motion for attorneys’ fees. Order (ECF No. 36). On February 28, 2018, petitioner
filed an amended motion for attorneys’ fees and costs, including updated rates for Ms. Wilson.
Petitioner requested attorneys’ fees in the amount of $23,678.05 and attorneys’ costs in the
amount of $1,516.73, for a total attorneys’ fees and costs request of $25,194.78. Pet. Amended
Mot. (ECF No. 37). This matter is now ripe for adjudication.

        Under the Vaccine Act, the special master shall award “reasonable” attorneys’ fees and
costs for any petition that results in an award of compensation. § 300aa-15(3)(1). In this case,
petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant to a joint stipulation, therefore he is entitled to an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs.

        After a detailed review, I find that the hourly rates requested are generally reasonable.
Mr. Kalinowski, his colleagues, and their paralegals at Maglio Christopher & Toale PA have
been repeatedly found to be “in-forum” and therefore entitled to the forum rates I first
formulated in McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-239V, 2015 WL 5634323
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).3 Most of the rates requested are consistent with what has
been found to be reasonable and awarded in other cases. Petitioner’s amended motion
specifically requests that Ms. Wilson be awarded $275/ hour for work performed in 2016 and
$290/ hour for work performed in 2017. Pet. Amended Mot. - Pet. Ex. 12 at 3 and Pet. Ex. 13 at
5, 9-10. These rates are consistent with recent prior decisions by the undersigned and other
special masters. See, e.g., Sun v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-1361V, slip op. (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 22, 2018); Sewell v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-124V, 2017
WL 6206208 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 13, 2017). I find that they are also reasonable and
should also be awarded in this case.4

3
 The McCulloch forum rates have been updated for subsequent years. These ranges are provided on the United
States Court of Federal Claims website, under the Vaccine Claims section. See OSM Hourly Rate Charts,
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/vaccine-programoffice-special-masters.
4
  Petitioner has submitted an affidavit from Ms. Wilson, which also addresses her proposed rate for work performed
in 2018. Pet. Ex. 12 at 3. The attorneys’ fees billing invoice indicates that Ms. Wilson did not perform any work on
this case in 2018. Thus, I do not reach the question of whether Ms. Wilson’s proposed 2018 rate is reasonable and
this decision does not constitute such a determination.

                                                         2
       For Mr. Kalinowski, petitioner requests an increased hourly rate of $368 for work
performed in 2018. Pet. Amended Mot., Pet. Ex. 13 at 10. This represents a minimal increase
from his rate for prior years. It is within the appropriate range for an attorney in Mr.
Kalinowski’s experience category (11 – 19 years). Based on my experience and my review of
Mr. Kalinowski’s work, I find that this is a reasonable increase and will be awarded.

        A line-by-line evaluation of the fee application is not required and will not be performed.
Wasson v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484 (1991), aff’d in relevant part,
988 F.2d 131 (Fed. Cir. 1993 (per curiam). Instead, I may rely on my experience to determine a
reasonable number of hours expended. Id. Just as “[t]rial courts routinely use their prior
experience to reduce hourly rates and the number of hours claimed in attorney fee requests ….
[v]accine program special masters are also entitled to use their prior experience in reviewing fee
applications.” Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993). I
find that the hours expended in the case are generally reasonable and I find no cause for
adjustment.

        Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. See
Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (1992), aff’d, 33 F.3d 1375 (Fed.
Cir. 1994). In this case, petitioner requests attorneys’ costs related to filing the claim in the
Vaccine Program, obtaining medical records, copies, postage, and traveling to petitioner. These
costs appear reasonable and adequately documented. Thus, they will be awarded in full.

        In accordance with the foregoing, petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is
GRANTED. I hereby award a lump sum in the amount of $25,194.78, representing
reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check jointly payable to
petitioner and petitioner’s counsel of record, Isaiah Kalinowski of Maglio Christopher &
Toale, PA.5

      Per petitioner’s request, the check shall be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA,
1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota, Florida, 34236.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of
the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT herewith.6

         IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                         s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                         Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                         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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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 is expedited by the parties separately or jointly filing notice
renouncing their right to seek review.

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