Court Opinion

ID: 855594
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-03-19 19:39:52.928268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:10.487751
License: Public Domain

Case 1:11-vv-00636-UNJ Document 29         Filed 02/21/13 Page 1 of 4

     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                       OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                No. 11-636V
                         Filed: February 21, 2013
*********************************
NADINE L. KRAGER and                    *        UNPUBLISHED
JEFFREY A. KRAGER, legal                *
representative and parent of a minor,   *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Reasonable
child, CASEY R. KRAGER,                 *        Amount Requested to which Respondent
                                        *        Does Not Object
            Petitioners,                *
                                        *
      v.                                *
                                        *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *
                                        *
            Respondent                  *
**********************************
Richard H. Moeller, Berenstein, Moore, et al., Sioux City, IA, for petitioners;

Melonie J. McCall, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                   ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

      On October 3, 2011, petitioners, Nadine and Jeffrey Krager, filed a petition
seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (Athe

      1
         The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of
Federal Claims’s website, 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 file
a motion for redaction “of any information furnished by that party (1) that is trade secret
or commercial or financial information and is privileged or confidential, or (2) that are
medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). In the absence of such motion,
the entire decision will be available to the public. Id.
           Case 1:11-vv-00636-UNJ Document 29         Filed 02/21/13 Page 2 of 4

Vaccine Program@).2 Petitioners alleged that their minor child, Casey, developed
thrombocytopenia purpura and other injuries as a direct result of his receipt on March 24,
2010, of the Measles-mumps-rubella (“MMR”), hepatitis A (“Hep A”), and varicella
vaccinations.

       Based on the persuasive factors supporting petitioners’ claim and respondent’s
election not to challenge petitioners’ claim, the undersigned issued a decision finding that
petitioners are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Program on December 7,
2012, and awarding damages. See Decision Awarding Damages.

       On February 20, 2013, petitioners’ counsel filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs in the amount of $16,115.00, to which respondent’s counsel did not object. 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 petitioners’ request and respondent’s counsel’s
lack of objection to petitioners’ counsel’s fee request, the undersigned GRANTS
petitioners’ motion for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioners’
counsel certifies that his client had incurred no out-of-pocket expenses per General Order
No. 9.
       The undersigned awards a total of $16,115.00 in attorneys’ fees and costs. In the
absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court
SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in petitioners’ favor in the amount of $16,115.00 in
attorneys’ fees and attorneys’ costs. The judgment shall reflect that the Berenstein,
Moore, Heffernan, Moeller & Johnson, LLP firm may collect $16,115.00 from
petitioners.

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

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                        s/Patricia E. Campbell-Smith
                                                        Patricia E. Campbell-Smith
                                                        Chief Special Master

       2
         National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat.
3755 (the “Act”). Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act
will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2006).
       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
         Case 1:11-vv-00636-UNJ Document 27
                                         29                Filed 02/20/13 Page 1 of 2
                                                                 02/21/13      3 4

               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
NADINE L. KRAGER AND JEFFREY A.                )
KRAGER, legal representatives and parents of a )
minor child, CASEY R. KRAGER,                  )
                                               ) ECF
                    Petitioners,               )
       v.                                      ) No. 11-636V
                                               ) Chief Special Master
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                            ) Patricia Campbell-Smith
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            )
                                               )
                    Respondent.                )
__________________________________________)

       STIPULATION OF FACTS REGARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS

It is hereby stipulated by and between the parties, the following facts concerning the above-
captioned matter:

        1. Richard Moeller, Esq., of Bernstein, Moore, Heffernan, Moeller & Johnson, LLP, is
the attorney of record for petitioners.

       2. A Judgment awarding petitioners compensation was entered on January 9, 2013.

       3. Petitioners’ counsel forwarded a draft “Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs” (“Draft
Motion”) requesting $16,889.18 in attorneys’ fees and costs to counsel for respondent on January
15, 2013.

        4. In informal discussions, respondent raised objections to certain items in petitioners’
Draft Motion. In response, petitioners have amended their request for attorneys’ fees and costs
to a total of $16,115.00.

         5. Petitioners request reimbursement in the amount of $16,115.00, made payable jointly
to petitioners and petitioners’ attorneys, Berenstein, Moore, Heffernan, Moeller & Johnson, LLP,
for attorneys’ fees and costs. In accordance with General Order No. 9, petitioners will file within
the next week a statement indicating that they did not personally incur any expenses in
proceeding on this petition.

         6. Petitioners understand that the payment totaling $16,115.00 represents all attorneys’
fees and costs available under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(e). Counsel for respondent has informed
counsel for petitioners that respondent will not object to petitioners’ request for $16,115.00 for
all attorneys’ fees and costs in this matter.
         Case 1:11-vv-00636-UNJ Document 27
                                         29                 Filed 02/20/13 Page 2 of 2
                                                                  02/21/13      4 4

         7. Nothing in this Stipulation of Facts Regarding Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, including
the amount set forth in paragraph 4, should be construed as an admission, concession, or waiver
by either party as to any of the matters raised by petitioner’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs,
including, but not limited to, the hourly rates requested, the number of hours requested, and other
litigation-related costs.

Respectfully submitted,

 s/ Melonie J. McCall                                    s/ Richard H Moeller
MELONIE J. McCALL                                      Richard H. Moeller, Esq.
Attorney for Respondent                                Attorney for Petitioners
Trail Attorney                                         Bernstein, Moore, Heffernan, Moeller
Civil Division, Torts Branch                           Johnson, LLP
U.S. Department of Justice                             501 Pierce Street, Suite 300
P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station                     Sioux City, Iowa 51101
Washington, D.C. 20044                                 (712) 252-0020
(202) 616-4098

Dated: February 20, 2013

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