Court Opinion

ID: 854585
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-03-08 01:01:17.229066+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:39.652467
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 10-261V
                                       Filed: February 11, 2013

*****************************************************
JEFFREY TOMPKINS,                                          *
as personal representative of the estate of                *
William Bruce Tompkins, deceased,                          *
                       Petitioner,                         *       Stipulation; Interim Attorney Fees
                                                           *       and Costs.
         v.                                                *
                                                           *
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT                                *
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                              *
                       Respondent.                         *
*****************************************************

Stephen I. Leshner, Esq., Stephen Leshner, P.C., Phoenix, AZ for petitioner.
Lisa Watts, Esq., US Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                   DECISION on INTERIM ATTORNEY FEES and COSTS1

Vowell, Special Master:

       On April 28, 2010, William Tompkins filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq.2 [the
“Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. After William Tompkins died, as a result of injuries
suffered in a car accident, petitioner’s counsel moved to substitute Jeffrey Tompkins, in
his capacity as personal representative of William’s estate, as petitioner. The motion
was granted on October 25, 2011.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner 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, I agree that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will
delete such material from public access.
2
  National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (1986). Hereinafter,
for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2006).

                                                      1
         On February 8, 2013, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact Concerning Interim
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs [“Stipulation”]. Prior to William’s death, the parties were
engaged in settlement negotiations, during which petitioner provided respondent with a
draft application for attorney fees and costs. Stipulation at ¶ 2. After informal
discussions of the draft application, petitioner now seeks an amended amount of
$19,000.00.3 Id. at ¶ 5. In lieu of filing a General Order #9 Statement, petitioner’s
counsel represents that as of November 8, 2010, petitioner had incurred no personal
litigation costs. Id. at ¶4.

       Respondent maintains that the express language of § 15(e)(1) does not confer
Special Masters with the authority to award interim attorney fees, but “elects not to raise
her statutory objection at this time in response to this particular request.” Stipulation at
n.1. Respondent cites my decision in Butler v. Sec’y, HHS, noting that I considered and
rejected her statutory objection in that case. See No. 02-1051, 2012 WL 4458203 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 25, 2012).

       I find that petitioner is entitled to an award of interim attorney fees and costs
under the facts and circumstances of this case, and that the agreed upon amount is
reasonable. Accordingly, I hereby award the total of $19,000.00 issued in the form
of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Stephen I.
Leshner, for interim attorney fees and costs.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed under RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
court shall enter judgment accordingly.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                         s/Denise K. Vowell
                                         Denise K. Vowell
                                         Special Master

3
 This amount covers all attorney fees and costs incurred in this case through November 8, 2010.
Stipulation at ¶ 5.
4
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
See Vaccine Rule 11(a).

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