Court Opinion

ID: 4265561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-19 16:04:28.985137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:56.374219
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                  Filed: March 14, 2018

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
KADY ALEXIS MALLOY,          *
                             *                        No. 16-754V
          Petitioner,        *                        Special Master Sanders
                             *
 v.                          *                        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Hourly Rate
                             *                        Not Awarded for Unidentified Individuals
SECRETARY OF HEALTH          *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,          *
                             *
          Respondent.        *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Richard Gage, Richard Gage PC, Cheyenne, WY, for Petitioner.
Alexis Babcock, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                     DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On June 28, 2016, Kady Alexis Malloy (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34
(2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of a flu vaccine received on October 30, 2014, she
suffered from Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus), palatal myoclonus, and post-herpetic
neuralgia. Petition at 1, ECF No. 1. When she filed the petition, Petitioner was represented by
attorney Sean F. Greenwood of The Greenwood Law Firm. See ECF No. 1. Mr. Greenwood
represented Petitioner until September 14, 2017, when a motion to substitute attorney Richard
Gage in place of Mr. Greenwood was granted. See ECF No. 32. On October 18, 2017, Petitioner
moved for a decision dismissing her claim due to her inability to “obtain a favorable expert

       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.
                                                  1
opinion.” Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 35. The undersigned dismissed the case for insufficient
proof. Decision, ECF No. 36.

        On January 5, 2018, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. ECF No.
44. In her motion, Petitioner requests fees and costs totaling $29,913.09, comprised of $22,059.35
for The Greenwood Law Firm and $7,853.74 for Richard Gage PC. Mot. Tab A, ECF No. 44.
Respondent filed a response on January 19, 2018. ECF No. 45. In his response, 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.” Id. at 2.
Respondent recommended that the undersigned “exercise her discretion and determine a
reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 3. Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.
On January 29, 2018, the undersigned requested additional information in support of Petitioner’s
motion. ECF No. 46. Petitioner filed additional information on February 8, 2018 and March 14,
2018. Mot. Exs. 1-3, ECF No. 47; Mot. Ex. 4, ECF No. 48.

         This matter is now ripe for consideration.

    I.      Attorneys’ Fees

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees. § 15(e). The Federal
Circuit has approved the lodestar approach to determine reasonable attorneys’ fees under the
Vaccine Act. Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d 1343, 1348 (Fed. Cir. 2008).
This is a two-step process. Id. First, a court determines an “initial estimate . . . by ‘multiplying
the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly rate.’” Id. at
1347-48 (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). Second, the court may make an
upward or downward departure from the initial calculation of the fee award based on specific
findings. Id. at 1348.

        It is “well within the special master’s discretion” to determine the reasonableness of fees.
Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521-22 (Fed. Cir. 1993); see also Hines
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 22 Cl. Ct. 750, 753 (1991) (“[T]he reviewing court must grant
the special master wide latitude in determining the reasonableness of both attorneys’ fees and
costs.”). Applications for attorneys’ fees must include contemporaneous and specific billing
records that indicate the work performed and the number of hours spent on said work. See Savin
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313, 316-18 (2008).

         a. Hourly Rates

        Reasonable hourly rates are determined by looking at the “prevailing market rate” in the
relevant community. See Blum, 465 U.S. at 895. The “prevailing market rate” is akin to the rate
“in the community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience and
reputation.” Id. at 895, n.11. The petitioner bears the burden of providing adequate evidence to
prove that the requested hourly rate is reasonable. Id.

                                                   2
        The decision in McCulloch provides a framework for consideration of appropriate ranges
for attorneys’ fees based upon the experience of the practicing attorney. McCulloch v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1,
2015), motion for recons. denied, 2015 WL 6181910 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21, 2015). The
Court has since updated the McCulloch rates, and the Attorneys’ Forum Hourly Rate Fee
Schedules for 2015-2016, 2017, and 2018 can be accessed online.3

     Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees for both her prior and current counsel. See Mot. Tab A,
ECF No. 44.

               i. The Greenwood Law Firm Attorney and Paralegal Hourly Rates

       Petitioner requests $325 per hour for work performed by Mr. Greenwood in 2015, 2016,
and 2017. Mot. Tab F at 7, ECF No. 44. Mr. Greenwood has been licensed to practice law since
1991. Id. He has been engaged in private practice for 25 years. Id. He has represented petitioners
in the Vaccine Program since 2006. Id. The undersigned finds the requested rate for Mr.
Greenwood to be reasonable and awards Petitioner the requested rate.

       Petitioner requests $150 per hour for Mr. Greenwood’s associate, KS. Mot. Tab F at 6,
ECF No. 44. KS is a second-year attorney with six months experience assisting Mr. Greenwood
with vaccine cases. Id. The undersigned finds the requested rate for KS to be reasonable and
awards Petitioner the requested rate.

        Petitioner requests $100 and $150 per hour for two other individuals at The Greenwood
Law Firm, CW and SXC, respectively. See Mot. Ex. 1 at 12-13, ECF No. 47-1. However,
Petitioner did not provide any information about either CW or SXC by which it can be determined
whether those rates are reasonable. See Mot. Tab F, ECF No. 44. Therefore, the undersigned does
not award Petitioner the requested rates for CW and SXC.

               ii. Richard Gage PC Attorney and Paralegal Hourly Rates

       Petitioner requests $318 per hour for work performed by Mr. Gage in 2017 and 2018. Mot.
Tab C, ECF No. 44. Mr. Gage was admitted to the bar in 1990. Mot. Ex. 3 at 1, ECF No. 47-3.
Since then, his practice has focused on representing petitioners in the Vaccine Program. Id. The
undersigned finds the requested rate for Mr. Gage to be reasonable and awards Petitioner the
requested rate.

       3
            The 2015-2016 Fee Schedule can be accessed at: http://www.uscfc.
uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2015-2016.pdf. The 2017
Fee Schedule can be accessed at: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-
Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf.          The 2018 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys%27%20Forum%20Rate%20Fee%20
Schedule%202018.pdf. The hourly rates contained within the schedules are updated from the
decision in McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).

                                                3
       Petitioner requests $120 per hour for Susan McNair, a paralegal at Mr. Gage’s firm. Mot.
Tab D at 1, ECF No. 44. Ms. McNair has an associate’s degree as a paralegal. Mot. Ex. 3 at 2,
ECF No. 47-3. She has worked at Richard Gage PC for nearly five years, and “has extensive
experience in Vaccine Program work.” Id. The undersigned finds the requested rate for Ms.
McNair to be reasonable and awards Petitioner the requested rate.

        Petitioner also requests $120 per hour for Brian Vance, another paralegal at Mr. Gage’s
firm. Mot. Tab D at 2, ECF No. 44. Mr. Vance has an associate’s degree as a paralegal. Mot. Ex.
3 at 2, ECF No. 47-3. He has worked at Richard Gage PC for more than three years. Id. The
undersigned finds the requested rate for Mr. Vance to be reasonable and awards Petitioner the
requested rate.

         b. Hours Expended

                i. The Greenwood Law Firm Hours

        Petitioner requests compensation for 69.75 total hours entered by The Greenwood Law
     4
Firm. Petitioner submitted adequate billing logs listing the date, individual, nature of each task,
and time spent performing each task. Mot. Ex. 1 at 10-17, ECF No. 47-1. Based on the lack of
objection from Respondent and the undersigned’s review of Petitioner’s motion, the undersigned
finds that the hours expended by Mr. Greenwood and KS are reasonable and should be awarded in
full. However, as discussed in the prior section, the itemized billing log also includes one entry
for work performed by “CW” and another for work performed by “SXC.” Id. at 12-13. The hours
requested for CW and SXC are 0.1 hour at $100 per hour and 0.75 hours at $150 per hour,
respectively. Id. Because Petitioner submitted no information about those individuals or their
qualifications, Petitioner will not be awarded the fees charged for those 0.85 hours. Therefore,
Petitioner’s request for fees paid to The Greenwood Law Firm will be reduced by $122.50.

                ii. Richard Gage PC Hours

        Petitioner requests compensation for 32.9 total hours entered by Mr. Gage and two
paralegals at Richard Gage PC. Mot. Tabs C-D, ECF No. 44. Petitioner submitted adequate billing
logs listing the date, individual, nature of each task, and time spent performing each task. Mot.
Tabs C, D at 1-2, ECF No. 44. Based on the lack of objection from Respondent and the
undersigned’s review of Petitioner’s motion, the undersigned finds that the hours expended by Mr.
Gage and paralegals Ms. McNair and Mr. Vance are reasonable and should be awarded in full.

         Petitioner’s motion states that Mr. Greenwood and KS spent 70.55 and 20.2 hours on the
         4

case, respectively. See Tab F at 6, ECF No. 44. However, the itemized invoice reflects that Mr.
Greenwood actually completed 47.5 hours of billed work, while KS completed 21.4 hours of billed
work and 0.8 hours which are reflected as “No Charge.” Mot. Ex. 1 at 10-17, ECF No. 47-1.
Additionally, CW billed 0.1 hours, and SXC billed 0.75 hours. Id. at 12-13. Therefore, the total
number of hours billed by The Greenwood Law Firm is 69.75 hours.

                                                4
   II. Attorney’s Costs

       The Vaccine Act also permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ costs. § 15(e). Like
attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of attorneys’ costs must be reasonable. Perreira v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992).

                i. The Greenwood Law Firm Costs

        Petitioner requests that $2,750.00 be paid to The Greenwood Law Firm for the fee paid to
retain expert witness Dr. Michael McCabe. Mot. Tab F at 9, ECF No. 44. Petitioner filed an
affidavit by Mr. Greenwood which, in part, discusses the expert fees paid to Dr. Michael McCabe.
Mot. Ex. 1 at 22, ECF No. 47-1. In his affidavit, Mr. Greenwood explained that Dr. McCabe, an
immunology expert and researcher, was retained to write an expert report opining on causation.5
Id. However, Dr. McCabe ultimately came to the conclusion that “he would be unable to opine as
to a method of causation.” Id. Petitioner also supplied documentation of Mr. Greenwood’s
agreement with Robson Forensic regarding the expert services of Dr. McCabe. Id. at 18-19.
Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Greenwood was required to pay a non-refundable “engagement
fee” of $2,750.00, paid “[t]o secure the availability of [Dr. McCabe].” Id. at 19. Once retained,
Dr. McCabe would bill $490.00 per hour for his expert services. Id. at 18. The agreement provided
that the engagement fee would be applied to the first invoice(s). Id. at 19.

        An itemized statement reflects that Dr. McCabe actually performed only 4.5 hours of work
on the case, which at his hourly rate of $490 amounts to $2,205.00. Mot. Ex. 1 at 1, ECF No. 47-
1. The statement also reflects “[p]eer review” performed by two other individuals, each for 0.25
hours, at the rate of $390 per hour and $490 per hour, respectively. Id. Therefore, the total amount
of the invoice, which reflects the cost of the actual work performed by the experts at Robson
Forensic, is $2,425.00. Id. Although Dr. McCabe did not ultimately perform $2,750 worth of
work on this case, the undersigned finds that it was a reasonable amount to pay to retain his
services, in light of his qualifications, the work he did perform, and the lack of objection by the
Respondent. Therefore, Petitioner’s requested costs relating to Dr. McCabe will be paid in full.

         Petitioner also requests $539.35 be paid to The Greenwood Law Firm for expenses related
to retrieval of medical records and the filing fee in this case. Mot. Ex. 1 at 2-9, 17, ECF No. 47-
1. These expenses are supported by documentation, and the undersigned finds that the request for
$539.35 relating to medical record retrieval and the filing fee is reasonable and should be awarded
in full. Id.

       5
        Although Dr. McCabe’s CV was not filed, he has been previously recognized as an expert
in Vaccine Program cases. See, e.g., Snyder v. Sec’y of HHS, 2009 WL 332044, at *19 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. 2009) (describing Dr. McCabe as having “impeccable qualifications” in the field of
immunotoxicology); Hazlehurst v. Sec’y of HHS, 2009 WL 332306, at *11 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr.
2009) (describing Dr. McCabe’s expert qualifications).

                                                 5
                  ii. Richard Gage PC Costs

        Petitioner requests $1,941.34 be paid to Richard Gage PC for expenses related to retaining
an expert witness, sending records to the expert, and producing copies.6 Mot. Tab D at 3-7, ECF
No. 44. An expert report authored by Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne was filed in this case, wherein he
opined that he could find no connection between Petitioner’s injuries and the vaccination that she
received. Pet’r Ex. 12, ECF No. 34. Petitioner requested that the case be dismissed on the same
day that Dr. Kinsbourne’s report was filed. ECF No. 35. Dr. Kinsbourne charged $500 per hour.
Mot. Tab D at 6. The undersigned finds that rate reasonable in light of Dr. Kinsbourne’s
qualifications and the lack of objection by the Respondent. Mot. Ex. 2, ECF No. 47-2. The
remainder of the expenses are supported by documentation, and the undersigned finds that the
request for costs is reasonable and should be awarded in full.

   III.       Conclusion

       Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to the following
award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs:

          A. The Greenwood Law Firm

              Attorneys’ Fees Requested for The Greenwood Law Firm                   $18,770.00
              (Reduction for 0.1 hours work performed by CW)                         - $10.00
              (Reduction for 0.75 hours work performed by SXC)                       - $112.50
              Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                          $18,647.50

              Attorney’s Costs Requested for The Greenwood Law Firm                   $3,289.35
              Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                          $3,289.35

                           Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Awarded
                                       to The Greenwood Law Firm                     $21,936.85

          B. Richard Gage PC

                 Attorneys’ Fees Requested for Richard Gage PC – Attorney               $3,275.40
                 Attorneys’ Fees Requested for Richard Gage PC – Paralegals             $2,712.00
                 Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                          $5,987.40

          Petitioner’s motion reflects that the total expenses are $1710.64 for expert-related costs
          6

and $155.70 related to copies. Mot. Tab A, ECF No. 44; Mot. Tab D at 3, 7, ECF No. 44.
However, Petitioner’s records reflect that there were actually $1785.64 in expert-related costs paid.
Mot. Tab D at 3-6, ECF No. 44. Chambers clarified with Petitioner that all of the expenses
reflected in her motion were paid, and therefore Petitioner was actually requesting $1941.34 in her
motion. See Informal Communication, docketed Mar. 9, 2018; Mot. Ex. 4, ECF No. 48.
                                                 6
               Attorney’s Costs Requested for Richard Gage PC                          $1,941.34
               Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                                $1,941.34

                       Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Awarded
                                           to Richard Gage, PC                         $7,928.74

        In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned has
reviewed the billing records and costs in this case and finds that Petitioner’s request for fees and
costs, other than those reductions delineated above, is reasonable. Pursuant to General Order No.
9, Petitioner submitted a declaration stating that she incurred no personal expenses in pursuit of
her claim. Mot. Tab E, ECF No. 44. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards a total of
$29,865.59,7 as follows:

              The total of $21,936.85, in the form of a check made payable jointly to
               Petitioner and Petitioner’s former counsel, Sean F. Greenwood, of The
               Greenwood Law Firm, for attorneys’ fees and costs;
              The total of $7,928.74, in the form of a check made payable jointly to Petitioner
               and Petitioner’s counsel, Richard Gage, of Richard Gage, P.C., for attorneys’
               fees and costs;

        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.8

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Special Master

       7
         This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award
encompasses all charges by the attorneys against the client, “advanced costs,” and 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).
       8
         Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right
to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).
                                                 7