Court Opinion

ID: 4172775
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-30 20:07:38.870278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:28.491239
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-281V
                                       Filed: May 4, 2017

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TERESA BOLLINGER,             *
                              *                              Special Master Sanders
          Petitioner,         *
                              *                              Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
v.                            *                              Reasonable Amount Requested.
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
          Respondent.         *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Gordon E. Shemin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

               DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On February 29, 2016, Teresa Bollinger (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34
(2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 15, 2014, she developed transverse myelitis (“TM”). See Stipulation Decision, ECF No.
23. On November 3, 2016, Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman issued a decision awarding
compensation to Petitioner pursuant to the parties’ joint stipulation. Id.

        On March 15, 2017, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. Mot.
Att’ys’ Fees & Costs, ECF No. 30. Petitioner requested attorneys’ fees in the amount of
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, Pub. L.
No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (2012)
(hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereinafter, individual section references will be to 42
U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.
$20,602.00, and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $588.36. Id. at 1. Petitioner also requested
$50.67 for costs personally incurred in the course of this litigation, for a total of $21,241.03. Id.

        Respondent indicated that “[t]o the extent the Special Master is treating [P]etitioner’s
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.” Resp’t’s Resp. 2, ECF No. 34. Respondent recommended that the
undersigned exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Id. at 3. Petitioner did not submit a Reply. See Docket Rep.

        The undersigned has reviewed Petitioner’s counsel’s detailed records of time and
expenses incurred in this case, and they are reasonable. In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to attorneys’ fees
and costs. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $21,190.36,3 in the
form of a check made payable jointly to Petitioner and Ronald C. Homer, of Conway,
Homer, P.C.; and the amount of $50.67, in the form of a check made payable to Petitioner
only. 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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