Court Opinion

ID: 2794169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-16 05:01:58.841725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:14.140738
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                     OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 13-299V
                                         Filed: March 19, 2015
                                         (Not to be published)

*************************
JANET DEYEAR,                                              *
                                                           *        Stipulation;
                         Petitioner,                       *        Attorneys’ Fees & Costs
                                                           *
        v.                                                 *
                                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                        *
                                                           *
                    Respondent.                            *
****************************
Margaret M. Guerra, Esq., Margaret M. Guerra, Attorney at Law, Fort Worth, TX for
petitioner.
Ann D. Martin, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS1

Gowen, Special Master:

       In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 I issued
a decision adopting the parties’ stipulation on September 10, 2014. On March 19, 2015,
the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact concerning attorneys’ fees and costs [Fee Stip.].
Fee Stip., filed Mar. 19, 2015. Additionally, pursuant to General Order #9, petitioners’
counsel asserted that petitioner did not personally incur litigation costs in this matter. Id.
at para. 3.

     The parties’ stipulation indicates that respondent does not object to the amended
amount of $15,445.33 that petitioner is requesting for attorneys’ fees and costs.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
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, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete 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
delete such material from public access.
2
  The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq.
(2006).
      I find that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a
reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems
reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award:

               a lump sum of $15,445.33 in the form of a check payable jointly to
                petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Margaret M. Guerra, Esq., for
                petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

        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
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
See Vaccine Rule 11(a).