Court Opinion

ID: 5130325
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-30 22:02:13.82479+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:16.757128
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1044V
                                        (not to be published)

    LEE ANN WELLERRITTER,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: October 22, 2021

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

                         Respondent.

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

Dhairya Divyakant Jani, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

      On July 18, 2019, Lee Ann Wellerritter (“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 her receipt of an influenza
vaccine on October 1, 2018, caused her to develop a left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration. (Petition at 1). On March 25, 2021, a decision was issued awarding
compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 26).

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 September
21, 2021, (ECF No. 31), requesting a total award of $27,170.83 (representing $25,514.00
in fees and $1,656.83 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 $400.00. (Id. at 2). Respondent reacted to the motion on September 28, 2021,
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 resolution of the amount to be awarded
to my discretion. (ECF No. 32). Petitioner filed a reply on September 30, 2021, requesting
that the Court award all fees and costs requested in Petitioner’s application. (ECF No.
33).

       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 $27,570.83 3 as follows:

            •    A lump sum of $27,170.83, 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 $400.00, 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 f iling 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