Court Opinion

ID: 4562311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-02 16:02:22.663112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:48.080970
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 19-486V
                                        (not to be published)

    JACQUELYN TRACEY,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: July 30, 2020

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Attorney’s Fees and Costs

                         Respondent.

Jessica Anne Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

        On April 1, 2019, Jacquelyn Tracey (“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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration as a result of an influenza vaccination administered on September
16, 2016. (Petition at 1). On April 30, 2020, a decision was issued awarding compensation
to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (EFC No. 26).

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated June 3, 2020,
(ECF No. 34), requesting a total award of $15,213.75 (representing $14,494.60 in fees
and $719.15 in costs). Pursuant to General Order #9, Petitioner filed a signed statement
indicating that she incurred no out-of-pocket expenses in pursuit of her claim. (ECF No.
34-3). Respondent reacted to the motion on June 4, 2020, indicating that he is satisfied
that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met in this
case and defers to the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be awarded. (ECF
No. 35). Petitioner filed a reply requesting that the Court award Petitioner all fees and
costs requested in Petitioner’s Application. (ECF No. 36).

       I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my
experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested
hours or rates.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. §
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
award a total of $15,213.75 (representing $14,494.60 in fees and $719.15 in costs) as a
lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel3. In
the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court),
the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                               s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                                               Brian H. Corcoran
                                                               Chief Special Master

3
 Petitioner requests checks be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota
Florida, 34236
4
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their
right to seek review.
                                                          2