Court Opinion

ID: 4125678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-13 21:02:55.796097+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:03.566436
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                             No. 16-686V
                                       Filed: October 20, 2016
                                           UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
CANDY GLASCOCK,                                      *
                                                     *
                           Petitioner,               *
v.                                                   *
                                                     *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                  *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                  *
                                                     *
                           Respondent.               *
                                                     *
****************************
Michael McLaren, Black McLaren, et al., PC, Memphis, TN, for petitioner.
Lara Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 10, 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) following an April 13, 2015 tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination. On August 16, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision
awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 14).

      On September 12, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees
and costs. (ECF No. 18).3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount
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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
3
    In the motion, petitioner states that respondent has no objection to petitioner’s request.
of $14,000.00. Id. at 11. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has filed a
signed statement indicating petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

       In light of all the facts and circumstances of this case, particularly including the
history of expedited resolution within the Special Processing Unit, and mindful of the
unopposed nature of the instant application, the undersigned finds that the overall
amount sought for attorneys’ fees and costs is reasonable. Given that this application is
unopposed, further analysis is not warranted.4 Further, Special Masters are entitled to
rely on their own experience and understanding of the issues raised. Wasson v. HHS,
24 Cl. Ct. 482, 483 (Fed. Cl. 1991) aff’d in relevant part, 988 F.2d 131 (Fed.Cir.1993)
(per curiam). J.B. v. HHS, No. 15-67V, 2016 WL 4046871 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 8,
2016) (addressing attorneys’ fees and costs in the context of a history of attorneys’ fees
and costs awards in over 300 similarly situated SPU cases.).

       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 $14,000.005 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Michael G. McLaren.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.6

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

4
  Given that this application is unopposed, this decision does not address the specific hourly rates of the
attorneys, only the total amount requested. Further, the undersigned need not determine whether the law
firm of Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee is entitled to forum rates set forth in McCulloch v. Sec’y of
HHS, 2015 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1227 (Sept. 1, 2015).
5
 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).

6
  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.

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