Court Opinion

ID: 4664679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-03 22:01:41.956606+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:37.538788
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-0976V
                                        (not to be published)

    KAYLA STRADLING,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: January 15, 2021

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Attorney’s Fees and Costs

                         Respondent.

Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

        On July 9, 2018, Kayla Stradling 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 she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome as a result of
receiving an influenza vaccine on October 2, 2015. (Petition at 1). On October 1, 2020, a
decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’
stipulation. (ECF No. 53).

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 “§” ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated October 19,
2020, (ECF No. 57) requesting a total award of $33,818.72 (representing $32,279.90 in
fees and $1,538.82 in costs) 3. In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner filed a
signed statement indicating that she incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF No. 57-
3). Respondent reacted to the motion on November 2, 2020 indicating that he is satisfied
that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met in this
case and defers to the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be awarded. (ECF
No. 59). That same day, Petitioner filed a reply requesting a decision be issued awarding
attorney’s fees and costs in full. (ECF No. 60).

       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. §
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
award a total of $33,818.72 (representing $32,279.90 in fees and $1,538.82 in costs) as
a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel.
Petitioner requests the check be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605
Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota Florida, 34236. 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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

3
    Petitioner’s motion incorrectly requests the total amount of $33,918,72.
4
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by f iling a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
                                                       2