Court Opinion

ID: 4553533
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-06 13:01:37.444561+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:48.583300
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-1831V
                                        (not to be published)

    JAYDN ROYLANCE,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: June 30, 2020

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

                         Respondent.

Lisa Annette Roquemore, Law Office of Lisa A. Roquemore, Rancho Santa Margarita,
CA, for Petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

       On November 29, 2018, Jadyn Roylance 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 she suffered the Table Injury of SIRVA, standing
for shoulder injury related to vaccine administration or a SIRVA which was caused in fact
by the second Gardasil 3 vaccine she received on January 12, 2017. (Petition at 2, 5).

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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). 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

3Gardasil is the name of the Human Papillomavirus 9-valent (“HPV”) vaccine manufactured by Merck.
See https://www.gardasil9.com (last visited Aug. 22, 2019).
On February 25, 2020, a decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based
on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 36).

       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated May 7, 2020,
(ECF No. 41), requesting a total award of $38,885.40 (representing $38,777.10 in fees
and $108.30 in costs). In accordance with General Order #9 counsel for Petitioner
represents that Petitioner has incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of $400.49.
(ECF No. 41-5 at 3). Respondent reacted to the motion on May 15, 2020 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 to the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be
awarded. (ECF No. 42). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

       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. §
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby award the total amount of $39,285.89 4 as follows:

            •   A lump sum of $38,885.40, representing reimbursement for attorneys’
                fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
                petitioner’s counsel and;

            •   A lump sum of $400.49, 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. 5

4 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).
5 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing 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