Court Opinion

ID: 1036284
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-02 13:59:25.045869+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:27:59.301733
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                               E-Filed: July 9, 2013

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JILLIAN LOWRIE, parent and next friend *       UNPUBLISHED
of, EMILY PAIGE LOWRIE, a minor,         *
                                         *     No. 03-1585V
                                         *
            Petitioner,                  *     Chief Special Master
                                         *     Campbell-Smith
v.                                       *
                                         *     Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                      *     Reasonable Amount
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                      *     Requested to Which
                                         *     Respondent Does Not Object
                                         *
            Respondent.                  *
                                         *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Robert T. Moxley, Robert T. Moxley, PC, Cheyenne, WY, for petitioner.

Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                   ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION 1

      On June 30, 2003, Jillian Lowrie (petitioner), as a parent and next friend of her
daughter, Emily Paige Lowrie (Emily), filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine

1
        Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s
action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States
Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002,
Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). 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). Otherwise, “the entire” decision will be available to the public. Id.

                                             1
Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”). 2 Petitioner alleged that the diphtheria,
tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccination administered to Emily on July 6,
2000, caused her to suffer an encephalopathy as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, 42
C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(2). On October 26, 2012, the undersigned issued a ruling that found
petitioner was entitled to Program compensation. See Entitlement Ruling, Oct. 26, 2012.

       On December 3, 2012, respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation
(“Proffer”), with accompanying life care plan. 3 On December 28, 2012, the undersigned
issued a decision based on respondent’s Proffer. See Decision Awarding Damages.

       On June 26, 2013, petitioner filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. On
July 1, 2013, petitioner filed a Motion to Amend and Correct Errata in the Fee Petition.

       On July 8, 2013, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Concerning Attorneys’
Fees and Costs (“AFC Stipulation”). The AFC Stipulation indicates that during informal
discussions between the parties, respondent raised objections to certain items in
petitioner’s application for attorneys’ fees and costs. See AFC Stipulation ¶ 3, at 1.
Based on those discussions, petitioner’s counsel reduced the requested amount. Id. The
parties are now in agreement and are requesting that a decision be issued awarding final
attorneys’ fees and costs totaling $133,500.00. Id.

       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 and
respondent’s counsel’s lack of objection to petitioner’s counsel’s fee request, the
undersigned GRANTS the parties’ stipulation of facts concerning attorneys’ fees and
costs.

       Accordingly, an award should be made in the form of a check payable jointly to
petitioner and Robert T. Moxley, P.C. in the amount of $133,500.00, for attorneys’ fees
and costs. 4

2
       The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of
1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et
seq. (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereinafter, individual section references
will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.
3
       The Items of Compensations of Emily Paige Lowrie is attached as Appendix A to
the Proffer. See Appendix A, Proffer.
4
      In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner incurred $2,272.70 in out-of-
pocket expenses while pursuing her petition, which was paid via the interim fees award.
See AFC Stipulation ¶ 4, at 1.

                                            2
       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the
clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the
parties’ stipulation. 5

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Patricia E. Campbell-Smith
                                          Patricia E. Campbell-Smith
                                          Chief Special Master

5
        Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’
joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                            3