Court Opinion

ID: 3154834
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-16 13:01:48.054915+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:25.219453
License: Public Domain

Case 1:14-vv-00068-UNJ Document 42 Filed 10/20/15 Page 1 of 2

        In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 14-68V
                                        Filed: October 20, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                    UNPUBLISHED
JODY RADIS,                   *
                              *                                    Special Master Gowen
           Petitioner,        *
                              *
v.                            *                                    Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
           Respondent.        *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Justine E. Walters, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On January 27, 2014, Jody Radis (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged
that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 26, 2011, she developed
rotator cuff tendinosis in her left shoulder. Petition at Intro. On April 28, 2014, respondent filed
a Rule 4(c) report in which she conceded that petitioner is entitled to compensation. Resp. Rep.
at 1-2. The undersigned issued a Ruling on Entitlement on April 29, 2014, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation based on an injury caused-in-fact by a covered vaccine. On April 24,
2015, respondent filed a Proffer on an award of compensation. On April 27, 2015, a decision

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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified
as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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.

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          Case 1:14-vv-00068-UNJ Document 42 Filed 10/20/15 Page 2 of 2

adopting respondent’s Proffer was issued, and Judgment entered on April 29, 2015.

        Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs on September 18, 2015. On
October 5, 2015, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs,
stating that “while [she] disagrees with the analysis and findings in [McCulloch], respondent has
determined that her resources are not wisely used by continuing to litigate the issues addressed in
that decision.” Response to Motion at 1-2. Accordingly, respondent indicated that she “defers to
the special master’s statutory discretion in determining a reasonable fee award for this case.” Id.
at 2.

        Petitioner here requests a total award of fees and costs in the amount of $32,199.56.
Motion for Attorney Fees & Costs at ¶ A. This amount includes attorneys’ fees in the amount of
$26,386.20, and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $5,788.36. Id. Additionally, in accordance
with General Order #9, petitioner represents that he incurred reimbursable costs in pursuit of this
claim in the amount of $25.00. Id.; Petitioner and Counsel Statement at 1.

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. §
300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request, which is consistent with the
rates and reasoning established in McCulloch, the undersigned GRANTS the request for
approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

       Accordingly, an award should be made as follows:

       (1) in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorneys
           at Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, in the amount of $32,174.56; and

       (2) in the form of a check payable to petitioner only, Jody Radis, pursuant to
           General Order No. 9, in the amount of $25.00.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance herewith.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             s/ Thomas L. Gowen
                                             Thomas L. Gowen
                                             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.

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