Court Opinion

ID: 4164117
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-27 20:06:19.815239+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:51.916084
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-843V
                                     Filed: January 4, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
NICOLE PREVITI,                                   *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
William E. Cochran, Jr. Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, PC, Memphis, TN, for
petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On September 11, 2014, 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 alleged that she suffered brachial neuritis as a result of her
April 26, 2012 tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination. On
September 12, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 56).

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

2National 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 November 23, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 61). Petitioner requests total attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
$80,575.22, including attorneys’ fees in the amount of $61,926.00 and attorneys’ costs
and advances in the amount of $18,649.22. (ECF No. 61, pp 30-31.) In compliance with
General Order #9, petitioner has filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incurred
no out-of-pocket expenses.

        On December 12, 2016, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF
No. 62). Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13
contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 1. Respondent adds, however, that she “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” Id. at 2. Petitioner “respectfully recommends that the Chief Special Master
exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and
costs.” Id. at 3.

       On November 4, 2016, the undersigned issued a reasoned decision in Henry v.
HHS, No. 15-545V, 2016 WL 7189925 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 4, 2016), addressing
hourly rates for the McLaren firm. The undersigned concluded that petitioner’s counsel
should be compensated at rates which are consistent with the rates requested in the
instant application with the exception of the hourly rates billed for attorney travel time
and for work performed by law clerks and paralegals in 2016. The undersigned adopts
the reasoning in the Henry decision for the instant analysis.

       The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, and the
undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or costs. However,
consistent with Henry, supra, the undersigned reduces the award to reflect a rate
reduction for travel time and for 2016 law clerk and paralegal rates.

         In October of 2014, Mr. Cochran billed a total of 2.3 hours for travel time,
amounting to billing of $770.50. (ECF No. 61-2, p. 7.) Notwithstanding the fact that Mr.
Webb was noted to be working on case review en route, the undersigned reduces these
hours by 50%. See, e.g., Hocraffer v. HHS, No. 99-533V, 2011 WL 3705153, at *24
(noting that “Special masters consistently award compensation for travel time at 50% of
the billing rate in the Vaccine Program.”). This results in a reduction of $385.25.

        Additionally, the undersigned tallies 26.7 hours of paralegal and law clerk time in
2016, amounting to billing of $4,005.00. (ECF No. 61-2, p. 28.) Reducing the hourly
rate to $145 reduces the total amount to $3,871.50, a reduction of $133.50.

        Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that petitioner’s counsel is
entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as follows:

                                             2
    Requested attorneys’ fees (based on 215.20 total hours):                                  $61,926.00
    Less 50% reduction for 2.3 travel hours:                                                    -$385.25
    Less 2016 paralegal rate reduction:                                                         -$133.50
    Adjusted total:                                                                           $61,407.25

    Costs:                                                                                    $18,649.22

    Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Awarded:                                                  $80,056.47

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards a lump sum of $80,056.47,
representing reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check
payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Black McLaren Jones
Ryland & Griffee, P.C.

         The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

3 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.
                                                      3