Court Opinion

ID: 4225948
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-05 17:01:39.583442+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:20.925544
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                  Filed: November 7, 2017

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JEFFREY and MEGHAN HEISE,                     *      No. 16-1082V
As parents of L.D.H.,                         *
                                              *
               Petitioners,                   *      Special Master Sanders
                                              *
v.                                            *
                                              *      Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Reasonable
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                           *      Amount Requested.
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           *
                                              *
              Respondent.                     *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Andrew M. Krueger, Krueger & Hernandez S.C., Middleton, WI, for Petitioner.
Robert P. Coleman, III, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

               DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On August 30, 2016, Jeffrey and Meghan Heise (“Petitioners”) filed a petition, as parents
of L.D.H., for compensation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012). Petitioners alleged that, as a result of the Diphtheria,
Tetanus, and Pertussis (“DTaP”) vaccines, Inactivated Polio Vaccines (“IPV”), Hepatitis B
Vaccines (“HBV”), Haemophilus influenza type B (“Hib”) vaccines, and the Pneumococcal
Conjugate Vaccines (“PCV”) administered on September 9, 2013 and November 6, 2013, L.D.H.
developed “a seizure disorder and/or epilepsy with corresponding hemiparesis and
developmental delay.” Pet. 1, ECF No. 1; Resp’t’s Rep. 1, ECF No. 11. On October 4, 2017,
the parties submitted a joint stipulation of dismissal, and the undersigned issued an order
concluding proceedings on October 5, 2017. Stip. Dismissal, ECF No. 30; Order Concluding.
Proc., ECF No. 33.
1
 This decision shall be posted 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), a party has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information that
satisfies the criteria in § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a
motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, such
material will be deleted from public access.
2
  The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42
U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (hereinafter “Vaccine Act,” “the Act,” or “the Program”). Hereafter,
individual section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.
        On October 4, 2017, Petitioners filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. Mot.
Att’ys’ Fees, ECF No. 29. Petitioners requested $23,025.50 in attorneys’ fees and $1,134.98 in
costs, for a total of $24,160.48. Mot. Att’ys’ Fees 4. Petitioners averred that they incurred $400
in personal costs during the prosecution of their case. Id.

        Respondent submitted a Response to Petitioners’ motion on October 18, 2017. Resp.,
ECF No. 34. Respondent indicated that “[t]o the extent that the Special Master is treating
[P]etitioners’ request for attorneys’ fees and costs as a motion that requires a response from
[R]espondent[,] . . . Respondent is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’
fees and costs are met in this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent recommended that the undersigned
exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and costs. Id. at 3.
On October 19, 2017, Petitioners submitted their Reply, asserting that “the fees and costs are
reasonable and were necessary to present [L.D.H.’s] claim.” Reply, ECF No. 35.

        The undersigned has reviewed the detailed records of time and expenses of Petitioners’
counsel, and finds that they are reasonable. In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned finds that Petitioners are entitled to attorneys’ fees and
costs. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $24,160.48,3 in the form
of a check made payable jointly to Petitioners and Petitioners’ counsel, Andrew M.
Krueger, of Krueger & Hernandez, S.C., and the amount of $400 in the form of a check
made payable to Petitioners. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC
Appendix B, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              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, § 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
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to
seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).

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