Court Opinion

ID: 3150472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-29 12:02:05.3016+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:08:14.301314
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 14-0847V
                                     Filed: September 29, 2015
                                             Unpublished
*********************************
SHERYL COX,                                        *
                                                   *
                         Petitioner,               *
                 v.                                *
                                                   *       Attorney Fees and Costs; Stipulation
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                            *
HUMAN SERVICES,                                    *
                                                   *
                         Respondent.               *
                                 *
*********************************
Amber Wilson, Esq., Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, (DC) Washington, DC for
     petitioner.
Ann Martin, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On September 12, 2014, Sheryl Cox filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 [the
“Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré
syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October
1, 2013. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 10. On July 2, 2015, a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation was issued.

       On September 28, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Regarding Final
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties agree upon an

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioners have 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 (2006).
award of $16,182.76 for attorney’s fees and costs. In accordance with General Order
#9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses in
this case. Stipulation, ¶ 3.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42
U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). The proposed amount is reasonable.

      Accordingly, I award the total of $16,182.763 as a lump sum in the form of a
check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Amber Wilson.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Chief Special Master

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, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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, HHS, 924
F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).

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