Court Opinion

ID: 4088555
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-11 16:03:02.502061+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:34.634135
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-1032V
                                    Filed: September 15, 2016
                                        Not for Publication

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HANNAH BAIONA,                             *
                                           *
               Petitioner,                 *
                                           *
                                                      Attorneys’ fees and costs decision;
 v.                                        *
                                                      respondent does not object
                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
              Respondent.                  *
                                           *
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Elaine Whitfield Sharp, Marblehead, MA, for petitioner.
Camille M. Collett, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

        On October 24, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act”) alleging that she suffered chronic
pain, abdominal pain, sacroiliitis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and costochondritis as a
result of her receipt of the Gardasil and influenza vaccines on October 25, 2011. On July 5, 2016,
the undersigned issued a decision granting petitioner’s Motion for Judgment on the Record and
dismissing the petition for failure to make a prima facie case of causation in fact.

        On September 4, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal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). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all
decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or
commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information
whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is
filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the document=s
disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned
categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.
requests $10,324.65 in attorneys’ fees, $1,969.94 in attorneys’ costs, and $200.00 in personal costs
for a total of $12,494.59. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed
statement explaining that she paid $200.00 pursuing her claim.

       On September 14, 2016, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s application for
attorneys’ fees and costs. Respondent explains that she does not object to the overall amount
sought by petitioner. She further explains that respondent’s lack of objection “should not be
construed as an admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of
hours billed, or the other litigation related costs.” Resp’t’s Resp. at 1.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. §
300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition, the
undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s application for attorneys’ fees and costs. Accordingly, the
court awards:

        a. $12,294.59, representing attorneys’ fees and costs. The award shall be in the form of a
           check made payable jointly to petitioner and Whitfield, Sharp & Sharp in the amount of
           $12,294.59; and

        b. $200.00, representing petitioner’s costs. The award shall be in the form of a check
           made payable to petitioner for $200.00.

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court is directed to enter judgment herewith. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 15, 2016                                                   s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                               Laura D. Millman
                                                                                Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                    2