Court Opinion

ID: 4079554
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-04 20:03:36.492729+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:20.205366
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    (Filed: September 9, 2016)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                      *        UNPUBLISHED
SCOTT MARSHALL and AMY                           *
MARSHALL, as Parents of H.M.,                    *
                                                 *
                                                 *        No. 15-1497V
                Petitioners,                     *
v.                                               *        Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                 *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                              *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                              *
                                                 *
                Respondent.                      *
                                                 *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mark L. Krueger, Krueger & Hernandez, S.C., Baraboo, WI, for petitioners.
Darryl R. Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On December 11, 2015, Scott and Amy Marshall (“petitioners”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 on behalf of their
minor child, H.M. 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to 34 (2012). Petitioners alleged that H.M. developed
optic neuritis as a result of receiving the HPV, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal, and Tdap
vaccinations on June 4, 2014. Petition at 1. On August 5, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in
which they stated that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
issued a Decision awarding compensation pursuant to the parties’ stipulation that same day.

       On September 8, 2016, petitioners filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs,
requesting $15,470.00 in attorneys’ fees for Krueger & Hernandez, $1,325.32 in attorneys’ costs

1
 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)(Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14
days within which to request 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).
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
for Krueger & Hernandez, and $2,087.00 in attorneys’ fees and costs for Tom Evashevski, the
attorney hired to establish H.R.’s conservatorship, for a total fee and cost award of $18,882.32.
Pet. Mot. at 3-4. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioners’ submitted a signed statement
indicating that all costs in this matter were incurred by counsel. See General Order #9
Statement. Petitioners’ fee application states that respondent “has indicated that they do not
oppose the application, and agree and the request is reasonable.” Pet. Mot. at 4.

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. §
§300aa-15(e). On review of petitioners’ application and billing log, the undersigned finds
requested fees and costs reasonable. Based on the reasonableness of petitioners’ request and the
lack of opposition from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioners’ motion for attorneys’
fees and costs.

        Accordingly, the undersigned awards a total of $18,882.32 as follows:

    (1) A lump sum of $16,795.32 in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioners and
        Krueger & Hernandez, SC, for attorneys’ fees and costs; and

    (2) A lump sum of $2,087.00 in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioners and Tom
        H. Evashevski, for attorneys’ fees and costs.

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court is directed to enter judgment forthwith.3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                     2