Court Opinion

ID: 873412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-05-31 00:01:50.006804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:10:01.466612
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 11-750V
                                       Filed: May 6, 2013
                                       Not for Publication

*************************************
MELANIE ROUSH,                             *
As the Parent and Natural Guardian of      *
SAVANNA SIMMONS, An Infant,                *
                                           *                      Attorneys’ Fees & Costs Decision
                                           *                      Based on Respondent’s Status Report
               Petitioner,                 *
 v.                                        *
                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
               Respondent.                 *
                                           *
*************************************
Melanie Roush, New Holland, OH, pro se.
Jennifer L. Reynaud, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                     DECISION AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

      On April 30, 2013, respondent filed a status report in the above-captioned case.
Respondent reports that the parties agreed on an appropriate amount for attorneys’ fees and costs.

        In accordance with the General Order #9 requirement, petitioner’s former counsel asserts
that petitioner did not incur any costs in pursuit of her petition.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master's action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims's website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made
available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to redact such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review,
agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall
redact such material from public access.
        The undersigned issued a decision dismissing petitioner’s petition on March 29, 2013.
Petitioner’s former counsel, at the undersigned’s leave, filed an application for interim attorneys’
fees and costs on April 8, 2013. Petitioner’s former counsel requested $13,336.33 for attorneys’
fees and costs. The clerk of the court entered judgment pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a) on May 3,
2013. The undersigned construes the interim fee application as an application for final attorneys’
fees and costs. During informal discussions regarding the fee application, respondent raised
objections to certain items. Based on these objections, petitioner’s former counsel now amends
his request for attorneys’ fees and costs and requests $12,250.00 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Respondent does not object to the reduced amount. The undersigned finds this amount to be
reasonable. Accordingly, the court awards $12,250.00, representing reimbursement for
attorneys’ fees and costs. The award shall be in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner
and Law Office of Sadaka Associates, LLC in the amount of $12,250.00.

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: ____________________________                      ____________________________________
                                                                     Laura D. Millman
                                                                       Special Master

2
  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.
                                                    2