Court Opinion

ID: 4308419
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-29 20:01:30.695574+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:46.485189
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1312V
                                      Filed: April 30, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KATHLEEN N. VUINOVICH,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                             Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Nancy Routh Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On October 11, 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 alleges that she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome
(“GBS”) following an Influenza vaccination on October 26, 2015. Petition at 1. On
February 8, 2018, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 49).

       On April 18, 2018, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 53). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $22,639.00 and attorneys’
costs in the amount of $1,221.79. Id. at 1. In compliance with General Order #9,

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket
expenses. (ECF No. 53-1). Thus, the total amount requested is $23,860.79.

        On April 19, 2018, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No.
54). Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13
contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 1. Respondent adds, however, that he “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully recommends that the Chief Special
Master exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees
and costs.” Id. at 3.

        Petitioner has filed no reply.

       The undersigned finds it necessary to reduce the hourly rate for attorney, Nancy
Routh Meyers. Ms. Meyers billed at a rate of $375.00 for her work performed in 2016 -
2018. The undersigned finds this rate appropriate for work billed in 2018. 3 However this
amount exceeds the rate previously awarded for Ms. Meyers for work performed in
2016 and 2017. See King v. Sec’y of Health & Human Services, No.15-0486V, 2017 WL
2256674 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 27, 2017) Wiersema v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Services, No.16-1430V, 2017 WL 3807014 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 2, 2017). As is
consistent with other cases in this program, Ms. Meyer’s rate is reduced to $350.00 per
hour for her time billed in 2016 & 2017. This results in a reduction of fees requested by
$810.00. The full amount of costs requested, $1,221.79 is awarded.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request, the undersigned
GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $23,050.79 4 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Ward Black Law, P.A.

3Ms. Meyers’ billed 32.40 hours of work performed between 2016 – 2017 and1.60 hours for work
performed in 2018.
4This 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).

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        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

5 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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