Court Opinion

ID: 3169139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-13 14:01:38.020861+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:00:18.507216
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 11-442V
                                    Filed: December 9, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                              UNPUBLISHED
TABITHA PRICE, as Mother and Natural *
Guardian of D.P.,                    *
                                     *                       Special Master Gowen
              Petitioner,            *
                                     *                       Joint Stipulation on Attorneys’
v.                                   *                       Fees and Costs.
                                     *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                  *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                  *
                                     *
              Respondent.            *
                                     *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Clifford J. Shoemaker, Shoemaker and Associates, Vienna, VA, for petitioner.
Robert P. Coleman, III, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

              DECISION ON INTERIM ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On July 7, 2011, Tabitha Price (“petitioner”) filed a petition on behalf of her minor child,
D.P., 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 Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis
(“DTaP”), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (“MMR”), and Pneumococcal Conjugate (“PCV”) vaccines
on August 4, 2008, D.P. suffered a seizure disorder and developmental delay. See Petition, filed
July 7, 2011. On October 29, 2015, the undersigned issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that
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 (2012)). 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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petitioner was entitled to compensation from the Program.

        On November 23, 2015, petitioner filed a motion for interim attorneys’ fees and costs.
Thereafter, on December 4, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation concerning interim attorneys’ fees
and costs. Petitioner requests a total award of interim attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
$142,414.13. Stip. for Fees and Costs ¶ 3(a). While maintaining her position that the Vaccine Act
does not authorize awards of interim attorneys’ fees and costs, respondent does not object to
petitioner’s request here. Id. at ¶ 4. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner represents that
she incurred reimbursable costs in pursuit of this claim in the amount of $2,585.87. Id. at ¶ 3(b).

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable interim attorneys’ fees and costs. 42
U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of the parties’ stipulation, the undersigned
GRANTS the request for approval and payment of interim 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 attorney,
           Clifford J. Shoemaker, of Shoemaker and Associates, in the amount of
           $142,414.13; and

       (2) in the form of a check payable to petitioner only in the amount of $2,585.87.

       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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