Court Opinion

ID: 4275399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-15 20:04:17.500767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:15.483139
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                      Filed: April 20, 2018

* * * * * * * * * *                  *   *  *
LEIGH EWORONSKY, Parent of                  *
A.E., a minor,                              *           UNPUBLISHED
                                            *
               Petitioner,                  *           Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                            *
 v.                                         *           No. 04-0992V
                                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *           Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Autism;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *           Duplicative Work; Vague Entries;
                                            *           Overhead Expenses
               Respondent.                  *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Clifford John Shoemaker, Shoemaker and Associates, Vienna, VA, for petitioner.
Justine Elizabeth Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

               DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On June 10, 2004, Leigh Eworonsky (“petitioner”) filed a petitioner for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 (“the Program”), as the parent of
A.E., a minor child. Petitioner elected to file a “Short-Form Autism Petition,3 and the case was

1
  This decision will be posted on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims’
website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This
means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)B), however, the parties may objection to the published Decision’s
inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, Under Vaccine Rule 18(b),
each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that
party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or
confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the
whole decision will be available to the public in its current form. Id.
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this decision
to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
3
 By electing to file a Short-Form Autism Petition for Vaccine Compensation, petitioner, who
was then represented by counsel, alleged that:

                                                1
included in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding. On September 13, 2013, petitioner filed an
amended petition asserting A.E. suffered from mitochondrial disease and sequelae resulting from
vaccines he received in 2001. First Amended Petition at 1 (ECF No. 25).

        On February 13, 2015, petitioner filed a motion asking to be included in the J.M. et al.
(02-10V) omnibus case and status report indicating that she agreed to be bound by the omnibus
ruling. (ECF No. 71). Petitioner filed a second amended petition on March 13, 2015. (ECF No.
75). The undersigned issued a decision dismissing both J.M. et al. and this case on August 31,
2017. J.M. et al. v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 02-10V, 2017 WL 7409771 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Aug. 31, 2017).

        On November 29, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Petitioner’s Application (“Pet. App.”) (ECF No. 109). Petitioner requests $29,335.20 in
attorneys’ fees, $1,078.10 in attorneys’ costs, and $12.62 in petitioner’s costs. Id. at 1.4 Thus,
petitioner requests a total of $30,425.92 in fees and costs.

        On December 13, 2017, respondent filed a response indicating he “is satisfied the
statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.”
Respondent’s Response to Pet. App. (“Res. Response”) at 2 (citing § 15(e)(1)(A)-(B)) (ECF No.
110). “Respondent respectfully recommends the Chief Special Master exercise her discretion
and determine a reasonable award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 3.

    For the reasons discussed below, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion and
AWARDS $28,931.65 in attorneys’ fees and costs and $12.62 in petitioner’s costs.

       [a]s a direct result of one or more vaccinations covered under the National Vaccine
       Injury Compensation Program, the vaccine in question has developed a
       neurodevelopmental disorder, consisting of an Autism Spectrum Disorder or a
       similar disorder. This disorder was caused by a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
       vaccination; by the “thimerosal” ingredient in certain Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
       (DTP), Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis (DTaP), Hepatitis B, and
       Hemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB) vaccinations; or by some combination of the
       two.

Autism General Order #1, filed July 3, 2002, Exhibit A, Master Autism Petition for Vaccine
Compensation at 2 which can be found on the court’s website at
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/autism/Autism+General+Order1.pdf.

        The OAP was “a general inquiry by the Office of Special Masters (“OSM”) regarding the
possible causal relationship between certain vaccinations . . . and autistic spectrum disorders or
similar neurodevelopmental disorders.”). See Notice, issued June 18, 2004.
4
 Petitioners’ counsel, Mr. Shoemaker, filed the motion and billing records, without pagination,
as one document. The undersigned will use the page numbers generated by CM/ECF to identify
particular entries.
                                                 2
       I.      Discussion

         Under the Vaccine Act, a special master shall award reasonable attorneys’ fees and
 costs for any petition that results in an award of compensation. § 15(e)(1). When
 compensation is not awarded, the special master “may” award reasonable attorneys’ fees and
 costs “if the special master or court determines that the petition was brought in good faith
 and there was a reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.”
 §15(e)(3). Respondent has not objected to petitioners’ application for fees and costs on the
 basis of a lack of good faith or reasonable basis. The undersigned finds that petitioners
 brought their petition in good faith and with a reasonable basis, and therefore will award
 reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

               a. Attorneys’ Fees

         The Federal Circuit has approved use of the lodestar approach to determine reasonable
attorneys’ fees and costs under the Vaccine Act. Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515
F.3d 1343, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Using the lodestar approach, a court first determines “an
initial estimate of a reasonable attorneys’ fee by ‘multiplying the number of hours reasonably
expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly rate.’” Id. at 1347-58 (quoting Blum v.
Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). Then, the court may make an upward or downward
departure from the initial calculation of the fee award based on other specific findings. Id. at
1348.

        Counsel must submit fee requests that include contemporaneous and specific billing
records indicating the service performed, the number of hours expended on the service, and the
name of the person performing the service. See Savin v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 85
Fed. Cl. 313, 316-18 (Fed. Cl. 2008). Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that
are “excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434
(1983)). It is “well within the special master’s discretion to reduce the hours to a number that, in
[her] experience and judgment, [is] reasonable for the work done.” Id. at 1522. Furthermore, the
special master may reduce a fee request sua sponte, apart from objections raised by respondent
and without providing the petitioner notice and opportunity to respond. See Sabella v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl. 201, 209 (Fed. Cl. 2009).

         A special master need not engage in a line-by-line analysis of petitioner’s fee application
when reducing fees. Broekelschen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 102 Fed. Cl. 719, 729
(Fed. Cl. 2011). Special masters may rely on their experience with the Vaccine Act and its
attorneys to determine the reasonable number of hours expended. Wasson, 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484,
(Fed. Cl. Nov. 19, 1991) rev’d on other grounds and aff’d in relevant part, 988 F.2d 131 (Fed.
Cir. 1993). Just as “[t]rial courts routinely use their prior experience to reduce hourly rates and
the number of hours claimed in attorney fee requests . . . [v]accine program special masters are
also entitled to use their prior experience in reviewing fee applications.” Saxton v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993).

                                                 3
                       i. Hourly Rates

       Petitioner seeks attorneys’ fees based upon the following hourly rates:

                        Attorney       2014      2015      2016     2017
                       Shoemaker       $400      $415      $430     $440
                         Gentry        $375      $400               $430
                       Knickelbein     $337      $350      $365     $378

        In late 2016, Special Master Corcoran determined the attorneys at Mr. Shoemaker’s law
firm were entitled to attorneys’ fees based on hourly forum rates. See Jaffri v. Sec'y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 13-484V, 2016 WL 7319407, at *6 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 30, 2016)
(finding the Davis exception set forth in Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d
1343, 1347-48 (Fed. Cir. 2008) did not apply). He awarded attorneys’ fees based upon rates
which fit within the forum rate ranges set forth in in McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015). Jaffri,
2016 WL 7319407, at *4.

        The undersigned has also awarded fees for work performed by the attorneys at Mr.
Shoemaker’s law firm based upon forum rates. See Prokopeas v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 14-1717V, 2017 WL 6763067, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 5, 2017); Miller v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 13-914V, 2016 WL 2586700, at *7 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr.
April 12, 2016). As noted in Prokopeas, these rates conform to the forum rate ranges set forth in
Office of Special Masters’ 2015-2017 Fee Schedules5 which are based upon the standards set
forth in McCulloch. Prokopeas, 2017 WL 6763067, at *3 n.8. The undersigned finds petitioners
are entitled to attorneys’ fees based upon forum rates in this case.

       With two exceptions, petitioner seeks attorneys’ fees based upon hourly rates which have
been previously awarded by the undersigned and other special masters.6 Petitioner has deviated
from these rates in the following instances:

       1. Ms. Gentry’s 2017 rate: $430 requested, $424 previously awarded; and
       2. Ms. Knickelbein’s 2014 rate: $337 requested, $325 previously awarded.

5
 The 2015-2016 Hourly Rate Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/.../Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule2015-2016.pdf. The 2017
Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf.
6
 See Prokopeas, 2017 WL 6763067, at *5; Cunningham v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
No. 13-483V, 2017 WL 4323145, at *3-4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2017); Hooker v. Sec’y
of Health & Human Servs., No. 02-472V, 2017 WL 3033940, at *26 (Fed. Cl. Apr. 11, 2017);
Mikkelson v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-867V, 2016 WL 6803786, at*4 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Oct. 3, 2016); Jaffri, 2016 WL 7319407, at *6-7; Boylston v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 11-117V, 2016 WL 3080574, at *3-4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 10, 2016);
Miller, 2016 WL 2586700, at *8.
                                                4
See Prokopeas, 2017 WL 6763067, at *5; Cunningham, 2017 WL 4323145, at *4; Hooker, 2017
WL 3033940, at *26. Petitioner has provided no reason why the undersigned should award
attorneys’ fees at these increased rates. Additionally, the rate requested for work performed by
Ms. Gentry, $430, is higher than the maximum for the range listed in Office of Special Masters’
2017 Fee Schedule for attorneys with similar experience as Ms. Gentry. The undersigned finds
the rates previously awarded to be reasonable.

       Attorneys’ fees are awarded based upon the following rates:

                        Attorney       2014      2015      2016      2017
                       Shoemaker       $400      $415      $430      $440
                         Gentry        $375      $400                $424
                       Knickelbein     $325      $350      $365      $378

All hourly rate adjustments result in a deduction of $12.30.

                      ii. Reduction of Billable Hours

        In addition to this deduction due to a rate adjustment, the undersigned finds a reduction in
the number of hours billed by Mr. Shoemaker is appropriate. Many of the entries in the billing
records submitted are vague and reflect an excessive number of communications, both intra-
office and with the other attorneys involved in the omnibus proceeding.7 For example, the
billing records include entries from July 10, 2015 through February 6, 2016, all but one of which
which are described as “Review pleading.” See Pet. App. at 8. Other entries indicated only
“Email to Sabrina” or “Email from Sabrina.” See, e.g., id. at 7 (entries dated 3/12/2015 and
3/13/2015). Thus, it is difficult to understand the actual work Mr. Shoemaker performed and
how it was relevant to petitioner’s case. Petitioner has not provided information explaining why
such vague billing entries are otherwise reasonable or necessary.

       The undersigned has previously decreased an award of attorneys’ fees for vagueness.8
Other special masters as well as the undersigned have reduced fee awards for excessive and
duplicative intra-office communication.9 Additionally, the undersigned has previously reduced a

7
 Out of the approximately 178 entries contained in the billing records for Mr. Shoemaker’s
work, more than 85 of the entries met this criteria. This time was also billed in Ms.
Knickelbein’s time and in billing records from the other attorneys with whom Mr. Shoemaker
communicated.
8
 Mostovoy v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 02-10V, 2016 WL 720969, at *8 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Feb. 4, 2016); Barry v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-39V, 2016 WL
6835542, at *8 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 25, 2016) (reduced a fee award by 10 percent due to
vague billing entries).
9
 See Lord v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-255V, 2016 WL 3960445, at *7 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 13, 2016); Ericzon v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 10-103V,
                                                 5
petitioner’s fee application when counsel bills for meetings between each other, as such billing is
excessive and duplicative.10 Petitioner has not provided a sufficient explanation of why it was
necessary for Mr. Shoemaker to spend this amount of time.

        An application for fees and costs must sufficiently detail and explain the time billed so
that a special master may determine, from the application and the case file, whether the amount
requested is reasonable. Bell v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 18 Cl. Ct. 751, 760 (1989);
Rodriguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 06-559V, 2009 WL 2568468 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mast. June 27, 2009). Petitioners bear the burden of documenting the fees and costs claimed. Id.
at *8.

        Taken as a whole, Mr. Shoemaker’s billing entries were so vague that the undersigned
could not understand much of the actual work that he performed and its relevance to the case.
For this reason, the undersigned reduces the number of billable hours by 5 percent11 to account
for vague billing and excessive communications. The attorneys’ fees sought are further
reduced by $1,466.15.

               b. Attorneys’ Costs

        Petitioner requests $1,078.10 in attorneys’ costs. Pet. App. at 1. Like attorneys’ fees,
attorneys’ costs must also be reasonable. Sabella, 86 Fed. Cl. at 206. After carefully considering
petitioner’s application, the undersigned awards a total of $1,074.90 in costs.

2016 WL 447770, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 15, 2016); Austin v. Sec’ y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 10-362V, 2013 WL 659574, at *14 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 31, 2013)
(Special Master Vowell deducted fees for excessive intra-office communication in a case
where seven attorneys at CHCC billed for attending conferences and drafting memoranda
about the case); Soto v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-897V, 2011 WL 2269423,
at *6-8 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 7, 2011) (Special Master Millman reduced CHCC’s fees for
intra-office communications and meetings); Carcamo v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
No. 97-483V, 2011 WL 2413345, at *7 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 20, 2011) (Special Master
Millman reduced fees when two attorneys at the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo billed for the
same meetings with a client).
10
  Bondi v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-476V, 2017 WL 1046526 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. Feb. 23, 2017) (reducing counsel’s invoice for three law firm partners each billing time for
case meetings and emails with each other).
11
  The undersigned is aware that “percentage reductions [of fee awards] are subject to heightened
scrutiny.” Raymo v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 129 Fed. Cl. at 702 (citing Guerrero v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 120 Fed. Cl. 474, 481-82 (2015) (quoting International
Rectifier Corp. v. Samsung Electrics Co., 424 F.3d 1235, 1239 (Fed. Cir. 2005))). In this case,
the undersigned has provided a “concise but clear explanation as to why the fee reduction is
justified” as required. Id. (internal citations omitted).

                                                 6
        All but one of the costs sought are for obtaining medical records or photocopying
documents. Pet. App. at 22-50. Mr. Shoemaker requests $3.20 for “CDs, labels, and cases for e-
filing.” Id. at 17. As explained by the undersigned in the fee decision in the lead case in the J.M.
et al. omnibus proceeding, office supplies are considered overhead expenses and are not billable
to the Program. See J.M. et al. v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 02-10V, 2018 WL
1514433, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 13, 2018). The undersigned thus reduces
petitioners’ costs request by $3.20.

               c.   Petitioners’ Out-of-Pocket Costs

       Petitioner’s out-of-pocket costs consists of payments to obtain required medical records.
Pet. App. at 3-6. The undersigned finds these costs reasonable and reimburses them in full.

       II.     Conclusion

       For the reasons set forth above, the undersigned finds that petitioners are entitled to an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs. The amount of the award is computed as follows:

Total Fees and Costs Requested:                                      $30,425.92

Attorneys’ Fees:
      Total Requested:                                               $29,335.20
      Reduction for Rate Adjustments:                                   ($12.30)
      5 % Reduction:                                                 ($1,466.15)
      Total Awarded:                                                 $27,856.75

Attorneys’ Costs:
      Total Requested:                                               $1,078.10
      Reduction                                                          ($3.20)
      Total Awarded:                                                 $1,074.90

Petitioner’s Costs:
       Total Requested:                                                $12.62
       Reduction:                                                       ($0.00)
       Total Awarded:                                                  $12.62

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards $28,944.27 in fees and costs as follows:

             1. $28,931.65 in attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly
                to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Clifford John Shoemaker; and

             2. $12.62 in petitioner’s costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

                                                 7
        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
     court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.12

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

12
  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.
                                               8