Court Opinion

ID: 6350579
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-16 21:00:57.399041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:23.427665
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1367V
                                        (not to be published)

    PAUL SHUPING,
    as father and natural guardian of minor                     Chief Special Master Corcoran
    child, T.S.,
                                                                Filed: April 27, 2022
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
                                                                Attorney’s Fees and Costs
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Meghan Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

       On October 13, 2020, 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 T.S., his minor child, suffered intussusception as a
result of a rotavirus vaccine administered on October 18, 2017. (Petition at 1). On

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
September 13, 2021, a decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based
on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 26).

       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated March 14,
2022, (ECF No. 33), requesting a total award of $ 31,782.25 (representing $ 31,252.30 in
fees and $ 529.95 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a
signed statement indicating that Petitioner incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount
of $3,872.34. (Id. at 2). Respondent reacted to the motion on March 24, 2022, indicating
that he is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs
are met in this case, deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded at the Court’s
discretion. (ECF No. 34). Petitioner filed a reply on March 25, 2022, requesting that all
fees and costs be awarded in full. (ECF No. 35).

      I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my
experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested
hours or rates.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Section
15(e). Accordingly, petitioner is awarded the total amount of $35,654.59 3 as follows:

            •    A lump sum of $31,782.25, representing reimbursement for fees and
                 costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and
                 Petitioner’s counsel and;

            •    A lump sum of $3,872.34, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

      In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of
the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 4

3 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).
4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
                                                    2
IT IS SO ORDERED.

                        s/Brian H. Corcoran
                        Brian H. Corcoran
                        Chief Special Master

                    3