Court Opinion

ID: 4153178
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-16 12:03:14.08216+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:52.492521
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-0960V
                                    Filed: December 1, 2016
                                           Unpublished

****************************
FLORA ADLER,               *
                           *
              Petitioner,  *
v.                         *
                           *                               Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                               Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
              Respondent.  *
                                                  *
****************************
David P. Murphy, Esq., Greenfield, IN, for petitioner.
Gordon E. Shemin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On August 8, 2016, 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 a shoulder injury as a result of receiving the
Prevnar 13 vaccine on June 22, 2015. On November 10, 2016, the undersigned issued
a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the respondent’s proffer.
(ECF No. 22).

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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 December 1, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees
and costs. (ECF No. 26). 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of
$9,625.00, attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,026.74, and petitioner’s out-of-pocket
costs in the amount of $1,267.89, for a total amount of $11,919.63. Id.

       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 $11,919.63 4 as follows:

             (1) A lump sum of $10,651.74, representing reimbursement for
                 attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, David P. Murphy; and

             (2) A lump sum of $1,267.89, representing reimbursement for
                 petitioner’s costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Flora
                 Adler.

        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

3The motion was filed as an unopposed motion and states that respondent has no objection to the overall
amount sought, as it is not an unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings this case.
(ECF No. 26 at 3). Respondent’s lack of objection to the amount sought in this case should not be
construed as admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours
billed, or the other litigation related costs. Id.

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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