Court Opinion

ID: 4263528
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-12 20:04:09.652144+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:15.328632
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1103V
                                      Filed: June 22, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
JACQUELINE SCHMITT,                               *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
                v.                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Jonathan Pleban, Pleban & Petruska Law, LLC, St. Louis, MO, for petitioner.
Lisa Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On September 2, 2016, 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 alleged that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration following an influenza vaccine administered on October 8, 2014.
On February 7, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 15).

       On May 30, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 18). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $8,738.25, attorneys’ costs
in the amount of $771.12. Id. at 1. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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 (2012).
filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Prior
to filing, petitioner submitted her motion to respondent. Respondent stated that he has
no objection to petitioner’s motion. Id. at 1-2. Respondent cautions, however, that his
lack of objection “should not be construed as admission, concession, or waiver as to the
hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the other litigation related costs.”
Id. at 2.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition
from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs.

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $9,509.373 as a lump sum
in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Pleban
& Petruska Law, LLC.
       3
       The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

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, § 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), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                     2