Court Opinion

ID: 4103908
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-01 21:02:33.372594+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:37.163877
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                      No. 14-386V
                               Filed: November 15, 2016
*************************
AZELL VICKERS as Administrator         *
and Legal Representative of the Estate *
of Markelle D. Vickers, deceased,      *                      Attorney’s Fees and Costs;
                                       *                      Amount Requested To Which
                      Petitioner,      *                      Respondent Does Not Object.
v.                                     *
                                       *
                                       *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                      Respondent.      *
*************************

Ramon Rodriguez, III, Esq., Rawls, McNelis and Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Ryan Pyles, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                     DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

Roth, Special Master:

       Markelle Vickers (“Mr. Vickers”) filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 on May 6, 2014. After his death, Azell Vickers (“Ms.
Vickers” or “petitioner”) was substituted as petitioner. Petitioner alleges that Mr. Vickers

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I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 (2012)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party
has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria
in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for
redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified
material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will delete 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent
subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).

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developed necrotizing myopathy and related sequelae and ultimately died after receiving a
diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (“DTaP”) and/or a Hepatitis A (“Hep. A”) vaccine on or
about May 6, 2011. On May 6, 2016, I issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner
based on the parties’ stipulation. Decision, issued May 6, 2016, ECF No. 42.

         On November 2, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
ECF No. 47.3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $38,204.17,4 attorneys’ costs
in the amount of $11,785.83, and petitioner’s out-of-pocket costs in the amount of $2,077.44, for
a total amount of $52,067.44. Id. at 4-5, 9. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s
counsel represents that petitioner incurred $2,077.44 in out-of-pocket expenses. Pet. Ex. 22.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. § 15(e).
Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition from respondent,
the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $52,067.445 as follows:

               A lump sum of $49,990.00, representing reimbursement for attorneys’ fees
                and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner, Azell Vickers,
                and petitioner’s counsel, Ramon Rodriguez III; and

               A lump sum of $2,077.44, representing reimbursement for petitioner’s costs,
                in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Azell Vickers.

3
  The motion was filed as an unopposed motion. Petitioner’s counsel provided respondent’s
counsel with a draft of petitioner’s request for fees and costs and, after conferring with
respondent’s counsel, decreased the amount requested before filing his formal motion for fees
and costs. Respondent’s counsel advised petitioner’s counsel that he had no opposition to
petitioner’s request for fees and costs. See Motion, ECF No. 47, p. 9. My chambers confirmed
with respondent’s counsel that he did not object to the amount requested, though respondent’s
lack of objection is not construed as an admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates
requested, the number of hours billed, or other costs related to litigation.
4
  Petitioner’s counsel stated that he reduced the total sum requested for attorney’s fees and costs
following conversation with respondent’s counsel. The reduced figure, found at page 9 of the
Motion, does not separate attorney’s fees from attorney’s costs. To arrive at a total of $38,204.17
for attorney’s fees, I subtracted the costs incurred by both petitioner and her counsel (found in
the General Order #9 Statement, Pet. Ex. 22) from the total requested by counsel. I have made
no determination as to counsel’s hourly rate in this matter; I merely conclude that the total sums
requested seem reasonable and appropriate.
5
  This 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).

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       The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.6

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                              s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                 Mindy Michaels Roth
                                 Special Master

6
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing
of notice renouncing the right to seek review.

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