Court Opinion

ID: 6113013
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-26 22:02:26.717476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:27.350101
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        Filed: January 5, 2022

* * * * * * * * * * * * *  *
THELMA ANDRAS,             *                                     UNPUBLISHED
                           *
         Petitioner,       *                                     No. 20-1036V
                           *                                     Special Master Gowen
v.                         *
                           *                                     Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
         Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John R. Howie, Jr., Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.
Alexa Roggenkamp, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On October 7, 2021, Thelma Andras (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Motion for Attorney Fees and Costs (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 38). For the reasons discussed
below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and award a total of $30,821.39.

    I.        Procedural History

        On August 18, 2020, Petitioner filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome as a
result of receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccination on August 10, 2017. See
Petition (ECF No. 1). On October 5, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation, which I adopted as my
Decision awarding compensation on the same day. (ECF No. 34).

1
  I intend to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the Ruling 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. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this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).
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.A. § 300aa.
        On October 7, 2021, Petitioner filed a motion for final attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner
requests compensation for her attorneys in the total amount of $30,821.39, representing $29,598.70
in attorneys’ fees and $1,222.69 in costs. Fees App. at 2. Pursuant to General Order No. 9,
Petitioner warrants she has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of his claim. Id. Ex. 4.
Respondent reacted to the fees motion on October 18, 2021, stating that “Respondent is satisfied
the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.” Response
at 2 (ECF No.39). Petitioner filed a reply on October 18, 2021, reiterating her belief that the
requested attorneys’ fees and costs are reasonable. (ECF No. 40).

         The matter is now ripe for adjudication.

   II.      Analysis

         Section 15(e) (1) of the Vaccine Act allows for the Special Master to award “reasonable
attorneys' fees, and other costs.” § 300aa–15(e)(1)(A)–(B). Petitioners are entitled to an award of
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if they are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act, or,
even if they are unsuccessful, they are eligible so long as the Special Master finds that the petition
was filed in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515
F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Here, because Petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant
to a stipulation, she is entitled to a final award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

         Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and
the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482,
484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is
filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent
of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed.
Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed.
Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

                a. Attorneys’ Fees

        Petitioner requests the following rates for her counsel, Mr. John Howie: $363.00 per hour
for work performed in 2017, $383.00 per hour for work performed in 2018; $420.00 per hour for
work performed in 2020, and $441.00 per hour for work performed in 2021. These hourly rates
are consistent with what Mr. Howie has previously been awarded for his Vaccine Program work,
and I find them to be reasonable herein for work performed in the instant case.

         Turning next to the hours billed, I find that the overall hours spent on this matter appear
 to be reasonable. The entries reasonably and accurately describe the work performed and the
 length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not identified any particular
 billing entries as being objectionable or unreasonable. Therefore, the hours requested are
 compensated without adjustment. Petitioner is awarded final attorneys’ fees of $29,598.70.

                b. Attorneys’ Costs

                                                    2
        Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,222.69. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical
records, postage, and the Court’s filing fee. Fees App. Ex. 3. Petitioner has provided adequate
documentation supporting all of the requested costs, and all appear reasonable in my experience.
Petitioner is therefore entitled to the full amount of costs sought.

      III.     Conclusion

       In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is
GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as
follows:

    Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                                     $29,598.70
    (Reduction of Fees)                                                                -
    Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                                 $29,598.70

    Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                                     $1,222.69
    (Reduction of Costs)                                                               -
    Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                                 $1,222.69

    Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs                                               $30,821.39

       Accordingly, I award the following a lump sum in the amount of $30,821.39,
representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check
payable to Petitioner and her attorney, Mr. John Howie, Jr.3

        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/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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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