Court Opinion

ID: 4265258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-18 20:04:33.185653+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:57.812318
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0254V
                                    Filed: January 12, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    WILLIAM LAHERA,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                             Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

George Edward LaMarche, III, LaMarche Safranko Law, PLLC, Clifton Park, NY, for
petitioner.
Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On February 22, 2017, petitioner 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 he fainted and fell following receipt of Hepatitis A
and Human Papillomavirus (Gardasil-9) vaccines on July 24, 2015, resulting in a
fractured nose and partial avulsion and lingual displacement of his number 8 and 9
central incisors. Petition at 1-2. On October 20, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision
awarding compensation to petitioner based on the respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 21.)

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       On December 27, 2017, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees
and costs. (ECF No. 27.) 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of
$4,575.00 and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $425.82. (Id. at 6.) In compliance with
General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred
no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF No. 27-1.) Thus, the total amount requested is
$5,000.82.

       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 $5,000.82 4 as a lump sum
in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
George Edward LaMarche, III.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

3 The motion was filed as an unopposed motion and] specifically states that respondent has no objection
to petitioner’s request. (ECF No. 27-2.)

4 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).

5 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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