Court Opinion

ID: 8374205
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-18 21:02:44.128758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:15.945663
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1449V
                                        (not to be published)

    KATHLEEN CARLOW,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: September 9, 2022

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

                         Respondent.

David John Carney, Green & Schafle, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.

Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

       On September 19, 2019, Kathleen Carlow 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 vaccine administered to her on September 20,
2016. (Petition at 1). On July 12, 2022 a decision was issued awarding compensation to
Petitioner. (ECF No. 32).

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section 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 July 27, 2022
(ECF No. 36), requesting a total award of $45,508.67 (representing $45,278.50 in fees
and $230.17 in costs incurred by Petitioner’s counsel of record). Petitioner also requests
$5,339.48 in fees and costs incurred by Petitioner’s former counsel, Larkin Hoffman Law
Firm. (Id. at 4). Lastly, Petitioner requests $6,007.04 in fees and costs incurred by
Petitioner’s former counsel, SiebenCarey, P.A. (Id. at 4). In accordance with General
Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that she incurred no out-of-
pocket expenses. (ECF No. 36). Respondent reacted to the motion on August 9, 2022,
indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s
fees and costs are met in this case, but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded
to my discretion. (ECF No. 37). Petitioner filed a reply on August 10, 2022, indicating that
“Petitioner does not wish to file a substantive reply to respondent’s response.” (ECF No.
38).

      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. Section
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs.
I award a total of $56,855.19 3 as follows:

            •   A lump sum of $45,508.67, representing reimbursement for fees and costs,
                in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel
                of record, David Carney at Green & Schafle, LLC; and

            •   A lump sum of $5,339.48, representing reimbursement for fees and costs
                in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s former
                counsel, Larkin Hoffman Law Firm; and

            •   A lump sum of $6,007.04, representing reimbursement for fees and costs
                in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s former
                counsel, SiebenCarey, P.A.

3This 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” as well as fees for legal services rendered.
Furthermore, § 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).
                                                    2
      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

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.
                                                 3