Court Opinion

ID: 6318660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-01 22:01:17.84057+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:37.353754
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         Filed: January 27, 2022

* * * * * * *                   *   *    *  * *   *
CAMILLE NYBOER,                             *             Unpublished
                                            *
              Petitioner,                   *             No. 21-1010V
                                            *
v.                                          *             Special Master Gowen
                                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *             Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *             Reasonable Basis; Withdraw
                                            *             of Petition.
              Respondent.                   *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Andrew D. Downing, Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ, for petitioner.
Voris E. Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On December 9, 2021, Camille Nyboer (“petitioner”) filed a motion for final attorneys’
fees and costs. Petitioner’s (“Pet.”) Fees Motion (Fees App.) (ECF No. 18). For the reasons
discussed below, I GRANT petitioner’s motion and find a reasonable award for final attorneys’
fees and costs of $7,709.40.

    I.       Procedural History

        On March 1, 2021, Camille Nyboer (“petitioner”), filed a petition in the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that she suffered an adverse reaction after
receiving the human papillomavirus vaccine (“HPV” or “Gardasil”) on March 2, 2018, May 9,
2018, and October 9, 2018. Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving
the HPV vaccinations, she suffered an adverse reaction. Id.

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party:
(1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that
includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
2
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012) (hereinafter
“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereinafter, individual section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.
        On March 12, 2021, petitioner filed medical records to support her petition. Notice of
Filing (ECF No. 6). On April 8, 2021, petitioner filed the PAR Medical History Questionnaire
and a statement of completion. ECF Nos. 8 & 9. The case was reassigned to the undersigned’s
docket on September 24, 2021. Notice of Reassignment (ECF No. 11).

         On October 4, 2021, I issued an initial order and set a deadline of December 3, 2021 to
file an initial status report indicating how respondent wished to proceed in this case. Initial
Order (ECF No. 13).

        On November 2, 2021, the I issued an Order, informing the petitioner that the statutory
240-day time period for the special master to issue a decision had passed. Order (ECF No. 14).
The order states that a petitioner “may submit to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims a notice in
writing choosing to continue or to withdraw the petition,” and to provide the written notice
within thirty days. Order.

        On December 1, 2021, petitioner filed a Notice of Intent to Withdraw the Petition.
Notice of Intent (ECF No. 15). Petitioner stated, “Petitioner hereby gives Notice, pursuant to 42
U.S.C § 300aa-21(b)…has elected to withdraw her Petition filed in the above-captioned manner.
Petitioner requests the Court issue an order concluding proceedings.” Id. Additionally,
petitioner stated, “Petitioner…was injured by the Gardasil vaccine-a covered vaccine in the
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Petitioner was statutorily compelled to initiate this
claim prior to pursuing a cause of action against Merck directly.” Id.

             On December 2, 2021, I issued an Order Concluding Proceedings. ECF No. 16.

        Then on December 9, 2021, petitioner filed this motion for final attorneys’ fees and costs,
in addition to medical literature. See Pet. Exhibits (“Ex.”) 9-13; Fees App. (ECF Nos. 17 & 18).
On December 20, 2021, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion, opposing the award
of attorneys’ fees and costs, stating that “petitioner’s claim is not supported by a reasonable basis
and was not brought in a good faith effort to litigate its merits.” Respondent (“Resp.”) Response
(ECF No. 19).

        Petitioner filed a reply to respondent’s response, stating that “respondent’s arguments
lack any foundation or support,” and that the petitioner is entitled to legal counsel to guide them
through the process [of bringing a claim] and respondent’s “over-reaching” position that a
petitioner gets “punished for exercising her statutory rights and exiting the Program must fail.”
Pet. Reply (ECF No. 20). Additionally, petitioner attached two recent attorneys’ fees decisions,
deciding this very issue. Pet. Reply Exs. A & B (ECF Nos. 20). On December 30, 2021,
petitioner filed an amended motion for final attorneys’ fees and costs, providing a supplemental
invoice. Pet. Supplemental (“Supp.”) Mot. (ECF No. 21).

             This matter is now ripe for adjudication.3

       II.      Petitioner’s Underlying Claim

3
    This decision encompasses petitioner’s first and amended motion for final attorneys’ fees and costs.

                                                            2
        Petitioner received her first HPV vaccination on March 2, 2018. Petition; Pet. Exhibit
(“Ex.”) 4 at 55. On the review of systems it was noted that petitioner was negative for syncope,
negative for decreased concentration and sleep disturbances. Pet. Ex. 4 at 54. Further, petitioner
was using albuterol prior to exercising to assist with breathing. Id. at 55. At this appointment,
she received the meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine and the first HPV dose. Id.
Petitioner stated that on Easter Sunday of 2018, she fainted while attending Easter Sunday mass.
Pet. Ex. 1 at ¶ 4.

        On May 9, 2018, petitioner received the second HPV vaccination and on October 9,
2018, she received her final HPV vaccination. Pet. Ex. 4 at 2. On December 21, 2018, petitioner
saw her primary care physician for congestion, cough, and blood-tinged mucus in the morning.
Pet. Ex. 4 at 63. The physical exam revealed she had congestion and she was diagnosed with
acute sinusitis and bilateral acute middle ear effusion. Id. at 64.

        On February 4, 2019, petitioner returned to her PCP for a non-productive cough. Pet. Ex.
4 at 65. It was recorded as a “dry cough” and occurred sometimes with fits of coughing. Id.
Eventually petitioner was given a course of steroids. Id. at 67.

         On May 4, 2020, petitioner’s mother called the PCP office to discuss, “weakness [patient]
is having.” Pet. Ex. 4 at 87. It was noted that petitioner’s mother wanted to have a video
appointment, stating that petitioner lost six pounds, gets dizzy and blacks out when standing up
and had bad cramps last cycle. Id. at 89. Petitioner was seen later the same day. Under “History
of Present Illness,” (“HPI”) petitioner reported that she feels like “things go black” when she
tries to stand up after sitting or laying down. Id. at 90. Petitioner also reported that she feels like
she is going to pass out, and feels sweaty and nauseated. Id. Petitioner also reported that the last
few cycles she had bad cramps. Id. It was recommended the petitioner have a consultation with
a cardiologist and that she increase her water and salt intake. Id.

        On May 13, 2020, petitioner had an appointment with cardiologist, Dr. Steven
Gremillion. Pet. Ex. 6 at 2. She was seen for an evaluation for “syncope.” Id. Under the HPI, it
was noted that petitioner’s second episode of syncope occurred while at church, which was
associated with nausea, diaphoresis, and dizziness. Id. It also noted that “about 2 months ago”
petitioner started experiencing dizziness and near syncope that was different and now the
episodes occur almost daily and are related with standing from a sitting or lying position. Id.
Dr. Gremillion diagnosed petitioner with syncope but noted that her recent symptoms sound
“more orthostatic in nature” and he wanted to obtain an echocardiogram, stress test and Holter
monitor. Id. at 6. An addendum to the record from May 13, 2020 notes that petitioner had a
normal exercise stress test and echocardiogram. Id. at 6. The Holt Monitoring system found no
significant atrial arrhythmias, no significant pauses or AV block detected, but complaints of
dizziness and black vision with standing correlated with sinus rhythm and sinus tachycardia. Id.
at 9.

        During a telephone call with petitioner’s mother on June 15, 2020, it was recorded that
petitioner was diagnosed with POTS. Id. at 95. At an appointment with petitioner’s OB/GYN
on July 28, 2020, petitioner reported that she was diagnosed with POTS-and it was noted that

                                                  3
petitioner was taking over-the-counter salt sticks, but “does not follow with a doctor.” Pet. Ex. 8
at 2.

        In her affidavit, petitioner stated that she never had any fainting issues and was a great
athlete prior to receiving the HPV vaccination on March 2, 2018. Pet. Ex. 1 at ¶ 1. She stated
that after she received the third dose of the vaccine, she began to experience more symptoms of
weakness and nausea after dancing. Id. at ¶ 4. Petitioner explained that she could barely get
through a four-hour dance practice, when she was previously able to get eleven hours of practice
“perfectly fine.” Id.

         Petitioner stated that her cardiologist, Dr. Gremillion diagnosed her with POTS after she
had multiple episodes of dizziness. Id. at ¶ 5. She explained that every morning she has to take
salt pills to prevent additional POTS episodes. Id.

        Petitioner also filed medical literature to support her claim. Pet. Exs. 9-13. One article
petitioner filed, Postural tachycardia syndrome following human papillomavirus vaccination,
reports on six-cases of postural tachycardia syndrome (“POTS”) following HPV vaccination.
Pet. Ex. 12.4 Another article hypothesizes that the HPV vaccine induced small-fiber neuropathy
and dysautonomia could be the pathogenesis for other autonomic nervous system injuries. Pet.
Ex. 9.5 Petitioner also filed the Gardasil Product Monograph (“package insert”). Pet. Ex. 3.
While the package insert does not specifically discuss POTS or autonomic dysfunction under
“warnings and precautions” or “adverse reactions,” it does list, fatigue, nausea, myalgia, and
headaches as adverse events reported 1 to 15 days post-vaccination. Id. at 6. Further, the
package insert explained that 3.3% of Gardasil recipients reported new medical conditions
“indicative of systemic autoimmune disorders,” but those rates were similar to rates reported
following control studies where patients were injected with saline placebo. Id. at 8.
Additionally, the package insert includes spontaneously reported post-marketing adverse events
reported, which include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”), Guillain-Barre
syndrome (“GBS”), motor neuron disease, and transverse myelitis. Id. at 10.

    III.    Legal Standard for Adjudicating Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

        In establishing a system for compensation of vaccine-related injuries, the Vaccine Act
provides that [t]he United States Court of Federal Claim and the United States Court of Federal
Claims special masters shall, in accordance with this section, have jurisdiction over proceedings
to determine if a petitioner under section 300aa-11 of this title is entitled to compensation under
the Program and the amount of compensation. 42 U.S.C. §300aa-12(a). The Vaccine Act was
intended to facilitate compensation by providing “fast, informal adjudication,” of no-fault injury
claims within the office of special masters in lieu of traditional tort suits against vaccine
manufacturers. Bruesewitz v. Wyth LLC, 562 U.S. 223, 228 (2011). The Vaccine Act allows
only limited avenues for existing the Program in favor of tort litigation. Typically, adjudication

4
 S. Blitshteyn, Postural tachycardia syndrome following human papillomavirus vaccination, 21 European Journal
of Neurology, 135-39 (2014). [Pet. Ex. 12].
5
 Martinez-Lavin, Manuel, Hypothesis: Human papillomavirus vaccination syndrome-small fiber neuropathy and
dysautonomia could be its underlying pathogenesis, Clin. Rheumatol. (2015). [Pet. Ex. 9].

                                                       4
in the Court of Federal Claims and rejection of the resulting judgment is a prerequisite to seeking
any other available tort relief. Id. at 228; see also 42 U.S.C. §300aa-11(2)(A)(i);

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. §15(e).
Section 300aa-15(e)(1) of the Vaccine Act provides that, “[i]f the judgment of the United States
Court of Federal Claims on such a petition does not award compensation, the special master or
court may award an amount of compensation to cover petitioner’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and
costs incurred in any proceeding on such petition if the special master or court determines that
the petition was brought in good faith and there was a reasonable basis for the claim for which
the petition was brought.”

   IV.      Party’s Positions

            a. Respondent’s Argument

        Respondent acknowledged that even if a petition is unsuccessful, an award of attorneys’
fees and costs is not mandatory, but instead within the discretion of the special master. Resp.
Response at 7. Respondent argues that petitioner’s claim lacks good faith and reasonable basis
and, therefore, “the special master lacks authority to award even discretionary fees and costs
award.” Id. at 8.

        With respect to good faith, respondent argues that the intent of the Vaccine Act was to
“divert litigation over alleged vaccine injuries away from vaccine manufacturers, in order to help
ensure a robust supply of vaccines.” Id. at 8. Specifically, respondent asserts:

         Congress intended that the Vaccine Program would serve as the primary vehicle for
         resolving vaccine injury claims in this country. While the Vaccine Act provides a
         mechanism by which petitioners may either exit the Program after set time periods and
         under certain conditions, or reject the court’s judgment and then bring a civil suit against
         a vaccine manufacturer…Congress plainly intended that petitioners would bring petitions
         in the Program in good faith-that is, with the intent to litigate the merits of the claim.

Id. at 19. Respondent contends that the petitioner in this case did not have good faith because “it
is apparent that petitioner never had any intention of litigating the merits of her case in the
Program.” Id. Respondent suggests that the petitioner did not bring her case in good faith
because she specifically stated that she filed her claim with the program to satisfy the statutory
requirement in Section 11(a)(2) so that she could exit the program and bring a civil suit against
Merck. Id. Finally, respondent asserts that the reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs is
essentially asking the Vaccine Trust Fund to “subsidize her civil suit against Merck, all while
depriving Merck of the quid quo pro of a decision resolving her claim on the merits (which
Merck could cite in petitioner’s civil suit).

        Respondent also argues that petitioner has not met her burden to affirmatively
demonstrate that there was a reasonable basis for filing this petition. Specifically, respondent
states that petitioner’s claim of a vaccine-injury are unsubstantiated by the medical records or a
medical opinion. Id. at 13. Respondent contends that, “petitioner relies almost entirely on the

                                                  5
affidavits of her and her mother to argue that her alleged symptoms began in temporal proximity
to her Gardasil vaccinations, and that she has been diagnosed with POTS.” Id. Respondent
observes that the first feelings of dizziness or feelings of pre-syncope upon standing that were
documented in the medical record was on May 13, 2020, which would put those symptoms “at
best over a year-and-a-half after her third dose of Gardasil.” Id. at 14; see also Pet. Ex. 6 at 2.
Further, respondent argues that while a tilt table test was recommended by petitioner’s physician,
no such test occurred, and the diagnosis was not offered by any medical professional in the
records. Id. Respondent argues that, “…given the lack of any treating physician support for
vaccine-causation and the extremely attenuated temporal relationship between vaccination and
the onset of symptoms, there is not even a scintilla of objective evidence in the medical records
to support petitioner’s claim in this case.” Id. at 15.

        Finally, respondent argues that the inclusion of the Gardasil insert does not support a
finding of reasonable basis. Id. at 16. Respondent contends that “the complaints of fatigue,
headache, nausea, dizziness and abdominal pain,” identified in the package insert as post-
vaccination complaints by vaccinees are “vague and common complaints,” and are not “POTS or
dysmenorrhea,” which petitioner is alleging is her injury. Id. Respondent argues that the
package insert has extremely limited probative value and does not establish a reasonable basis
for petitioner’s claim. Id.

           b. Petitioner’s Position

        In her reply to respondent’s response, petitioner argues that the respondent is correct that
the Vaccine Act provides some liability protections, but those protections are limited only to
allegations of injury or death from side effects that were unavoidable even though the vaccine
was properly prepared and accompanied by proper directions and warnings. Pet. Reply at 2-3
(citing §300aa-22(b)(1)). Petitioner asserts that the Vaccine Act does not protect vaccine
manufacturers from other tort claims that petitioners may seek to pursue in other forums.

        Additionally, petitioner states that the respondent acknowledges that the Act also permits
petitioners to exit the Program after set periods of time, “but then wrongly argues that a case
must be litigated to completion for good faith to exist.” Id. at 3. Petitioner asserts that the
respondent has no basis “to state that petitioner is not within her rights to decide to withdraw a
petition and to litigate directly against the vaccine manufacturer for claims not barred by the Act.
Id. Petitioner contends that respondent “attempts to re-define “good faith” with a never before
asserted or recognized definition that good faith as used for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs
means an intent to litigate the merits of the claim to completion.” Id. at 4. Petitioner cites to two
cases, Thomas and Hoover, recently decided by other special masters that rejected respondent’s
arguments about requiring cases to be litigated to completion to comply with good faith. Id. at 5
(citing Thomas v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 20-886V, 2021 WL 2389837, at *6 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 17, 2021) and Thomas v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 20-1394V,
2021 WL 5575768, at *7 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 1, 2021).

        Further, petitioner also contends that she is entitled to legal representation to guide them
through the process and that she is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs if the good
faith and reasonable basis requirements are met under analysis specific to the case. Id.

                                                  6
   V.      Legal Standard for Availability of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs for Withdrawn
           Petitions

        In establishing a system for compensation of vaccine-related injuries the Vaccine Act
provides that “[t]he United States Court of Federal Claim and the United States Court of Federal
Claims special masters shall, in accordance with this section, have jurisdiction over proceedings
to determine if a petitioner under section § 300aa-11 of this title is entitled to compensation
under the Program and the amount of such compensation.” §12(a). The Vaccine Act was
intended to facilitate compensation by providing “fast, informal adjudication,” of no-fault injury
claims within the office of special masters in lieu of traditional tort suits against vaccine
manufacturers.” Bruesewitz v. Wyeth LLC, 562 U.S. 223, 228 (2011). As respondent correctly
noted, “The quid pro quo” for this no-fault program “designed to stabilize the vaccine market,
was the provision of significant tort-liability protection for vaccine manufacturers.” Id. at 229.
Accordingly, the Vaccine Act allows limited avenues for a petitioner to pursue civil actions
against manufacturers. Pursuant to the Act, a petitioner must file a petition in the Court of
Federal Claims and reject the resulting judgment as a prerequisite to seeking other available tort
relief. Id. at 228; see also §§ 11(2)(A)(i), 21(a) (emphasis added).

        Section 12(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the Vaccine Act provides that “[a] special master to whom a
petition has been assigned shall issue a decision….as expeditiously as practicable but not later
than 240 days….after the date the petition was filed.” Further, Section 12(g) provides that if the
special master fails to make a decision on the petition within the prescribed timeframe, the
special master “shall notify the petitioner….that [they] may withdraw the petition under section
300aa-21(b).”

        With regard to bringing an action against a vaccine manufacture, section 11(a)(2)(A)(ii)
of the Act provides that,

        No person may bring a civil action for damages or in an unspecified amount against a
        vaccine administrator or manufacturer in a State or Federal court for damages arising
        from a vaccine-related injury or death….unless a petitioner has been filed, in accordance
        with section 300aa-16 of this title, for compensation under the Program for such injury or
        death….and such person elects to withdraw such petition under section 300aa-21(b) of
        this title or such petition is considered withdrawn under such section.

In this case, petitioner exited the Program pursuant to section 21(b) with the stated intention of
filing a lawsuit against the vaccine manufacturer. To effectuate petitioner’s requested action,
Vaccine Rule 10(d) provides that the special master may issue an order concluding proceedings
in response to petitioner’s notice of withdrawal and “upon entry will be deemed a judgment for
purposes of 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(e)(1).”

       Under section 15(e)(1) of the Act, the “special master or the court may award an amount
of compensation to cover petitioner’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in any
proceeding on such petition if the special master or court determines that the petition was

                                                 7
brought in good faith and there was a reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was
brought.”

       With Vaccine Rule 10(d) and section 300aa-15 of the Act in tandem, my order
concluding proceedings in this case constitutes a judgment on this petition that does not award
compensation. Thus, this case is only eligible for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs upon a
showing that the petition was brought in good faith and with a reasonable basis.

        Petitioners are entitled to a presumption of good faith as is the government. Grice v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 36 Fed. Cl. 114, 121 (1996). Without evidence of bad faith,
“petitioners are entitled to a presumption of good faith.” Grice, 36 Fed. Cl. at 121. Thus, so long
as Petitioner had an honest belief that her claim could succeed, the good faith requirement is
satisfied. See Riley v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-276V, 2011 WL 2036976, at *2
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 29, 2011) (citing Di Roma, 1993WL 496981, at *1); Turner v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 2007 WL 4410030, at *5. Good faith is a subjective test, satisfied
through subjective evidence. Cottingham v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 971 F.3d 1337,
1344 (Fed. Cir. 2020).

        Whereas “reasonable basis” is an objective standard. An analysis of reasonable basis
requires more than just a petitioner’s belief in her claim. Turner, 2007 WL 4410030, at *6-7.
Instead, the claim must at least be supported by objective evidence-medical records or medical
opinion. Sharp-Roundtree v.Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 14-804V, 2015 WL
12600336, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 3, 2015). Objective medical evidence, including
medical records…even where the records provide only circumstantial evidence of causation can
support a showing of reasonable basis. Cottingham, at 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2020). Further, “absence
of an express medical opinion on causation is not necessarily dispositive of whether a claim has
reasonable basis.” James-Cornelius v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 984 F.3d 1374, 1379
(citing Cottingham, at 1346). The factors to be considered may include “the factual basis of the
claim, the medical and scientific support for the claim, the novelty of the vaccine, and the
novelty of the theory of causation. Amankwaa, 138 Fed. Cl. at 289.

   VI.     Analysis

   a. Good faith

        In the two cases petitioner cites in her reply, Hoover and Thomas, both Special Masters
explained that the Vaccine Act specifically creates a mechanism for petitioners to withdrawal
from the program and pursue civil litigation. Thomas v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs. No.
20-886V, 2021 WL 2389837, at *3-4 (Fed. Cl. Sepc. Mstr. May 17, 2021); Hoover v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 20-1394V, 2021 WL 5575768, at *7-8 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov.
1, 2021). Further, the special masters in those decisions explained that complying with the
statute to withdraw a petition to pursue civil litigation is not inconsistent with the purpose of the
Vaccine Act. I agree with my colleagues. Filing the petition with the Court of Federal Claims
special masters and utilizing the 240-day withdrawal option is a creation of the Vaccine Act.
Thus, it cannot be said that a petitioner utilizing this statutorily created withdrawal option is
doing something that conflicts with the Vaccine Act.

                                                  8
         Further, respondent does not cite to any authority supporting his assertion that good faith
requires “an attempt to adjudicate the merits of the claim.” Instead, this assertion is incompatible
with both the statute, which provides a mechanism for a petitioner to withdraw her claim after a
certain period of time, and the legal framework of good faith for claims brought before this
Court. Instead, petitioner argues that the meaning of good faith is well-settled and refers to her
belief that the HPV vaccine caused her injury, and not her intention regarding the manner of
litigation. Pet. Reply at 2 (citing Di Roma v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 90-3277V,
1993 WL 4961981, at 1 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 18, 1993). Petitioner’s stated intention to file
suit directly against the vaccine manufacturer in a different forum is consistent with a sincerely
held belief that a vaccine-caused injury has occurred. Finally, taking respondent’s argument to
its logical conclusion would not only increase attorneys’ fees and costs over time, but it would
cause further delay in adjudicating other claims before the Court when docket caseloads are
rising.

       For these reasons, I find that the petition was filed in good faith.

   b. Reasonable basis

       In discussing the reasonable basis requirement in Cottingham, the Federal Circuit stressed
the prima facie petition requirements of section 300aa-11(c)(1) of the Vaccine Act. 971 F.3d at
1345-46. Specifically, the petition must be accompanied by an affidavit and supporting
documentation showing that the vaccinee:

   (1) received a vaccine listed on the Vaccine Injury Table;
   (2) received the vaccination in the United States, or under certain stated circumstances
       outside the United States;
   (3) sustained (or had significantly aggravated) an injury as set forth in the Vaccine Injury
       Table (42 C.F.R § 100.3(e)) or that was caused by the vaccine;
   (4) experienced the residual effects of the injury for more than six months, died, or required
       an in-patient hospitalization with surgical intervention; and
   (5) has not previously collected an award or settlement of civil action for damages for the
       same injury.

Id. In this case, respondent does not dispute elements one, two, four or five. Instead,
respondent’s objection to reasonable basis is that petitioner cannot point to evidence that
demonstrates that she sustained an injury caused by the vaccine. Resp. Response at 13. More
specifically, respondent argues that the medical records fail to include the diagnosis which she is
alleging the vaccine caused and cannot establish a proximate temporal association of symptom
onset to the vaccine. These issues respondent raised are related to vaccine causation and to
establishment of entitlement, a petitioner must prove these elements by preponderant evidence.
However, the burden of proof to establish reasonable basis for attorneys’ fees is “more than a
mere scintilla but less than a preponderance of proof.” Cottingham at 1346.

        Petitioner received the first Gardasil vaccination on March 2, 2018. Pet. Ex. 4 at 2, 55.
In her affidavit, petitioner stated that while at mass on Easter Sunday (April 1, 2018), “I told my

                                                  9
dad that I felt like I was about to pass out. I ended up leaving the pew and tried to run to the
back, but I only got a few feet before I fainted. Thankfully, my dad caught me and all I
remember is waking up on the floor.” Pet. Ex. 1 at ¶ 2. She received the second Gardasil shot
on May 9, 2018 and the third on October 9, 2018. Pet. Ex. 4 at 2. On May 4, 2020, petitioner’s
mother called the petitioner’s primary care physician, indicating that petitioner was having
weakness. Pet. Ex. 4 at 87. During the phone call, petitioner’s mother indicated that petitioner
had lost weight, gets “dizzy and blacks out when she stands up,” but does not have any
respiratory symptoms. Id. at 89. The same day, when petitioner was seen by Dr. Calandro,
petitioner reported that she has “had many episodes of feeling like she has passed out (has
happened at church and at dance.” Id. at 90. Petitioner also reported that she feels “sweaty and
nauseated,” and that her hearing goes out. Id. During the orthostatic exam, it showed that
petitioner had a heart rate increase greater than 20 beats per minute from lying to standing and
had a “slight dip in blood pressure.” Id. at 93. It was recommended that she increase her salt
and water intake and see a cardiologist “given the possible orthostatic hypotension episodes.” Id.

        On May 13, 2020, petitioner had an appointment with Dr. Steven Gremillion at the
Louisiana Cardiology Associates. Pet. Ex. 8 at 2. At this appointment, petitioner reported an
episode of syncope occurred while at church and it was associated with nausea, diaphoresis, and
dizziness. At this appointment petitioner reported that “about 2 months ago she started
experiencing dizziness and near syncope that was slightly different. These episodes occur almost
daily and related with standing from a sitting or lying position.” Id. The Holter monitor showed
that petitioner’s complaints of dizziness and black vision with standing up “correlated with sinus
rhythm and sinus tachycardia.” Id. at 9.

        During a June 15, 2020 phone call with Nurse Melissa Garcia, petitioner’s mother
reported that petitioner had an IgA deficiency, and “also diagnosed with POTS.” Pet. Ex. 4 at
95. In records from August 2020 and November 2020, POTS was included under the “Problem
List” and it indicated that it began in May 18, 2020 and it had not resolved. See Pet. Ex. 4 at 2,
101. In the August 10, 2020 record, under the “Patient Active Problem List,” it also indicates
that petitioner has “functional dyspepsia and vasovagal syncope,” along with POTS. Id. at 101.

        Additionally, petitioner filed the package insert for the vaccine at issue. Pet. Ex. 3. The
insert constitutes objective evidence to potentially support causation when paired with a
petitioner’s medical records. Cottingham, 971 F.3d at 1346. The package insert explains that
some recipients of the HPV vaccine have suffered from nausea, dizziness, and upper abdominal
pain post-vaccination. Pet. Ex. 3 at 9. In this case, petitioner was alleging she had been
dizziness and near syncope events, along with abdominal pain (dyspepsia) post-vaccination.
Petitioner also asserted that she experienced a syncope event approximately one month after her
first vaccination in her affidavit. As noted by the Federal Circuit in James-Cornelius v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., “a patient’s or parent’s testimony may be the best, or only direct
evidence,” of the occurrence of medical symptoms, “such as a headache, or other pain, dizziness,
nausea, and vomiting.” 984 F.3d at 1380. Petitioner also reported this fainting event to her
treating physician later as well, making it more likely that the event occurred.

        While respondent correctly raises issues of diagnosis and onset as being problematic for
petitioner on entitlement with the record as it stands today, and she would have had to

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supplement the record with additional evidence had she continued, petitioner’s rendition of the
syncopal episode at church within 30 days of the first Gardasil vaccination, its report to her
physician at a later date and the known occurrence of syncope in conjunction with POTS has
barely provided “more than a mere scintilla” of evidence to support reasonable basis through the
filing of medical records, affidavit noting that her symptoms began after vaccination and the
Gardasil package insert. For the reasons stated above, I find that petitioner has established a
reasonable basis, for filing her claim.

   VII.    Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

           a. Legal Standard for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

        Petitioners “[bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and
the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct.
482, 484 (1993). Counsel must submit fee requests that include contemporaneous and specific
billing records indicating the service performed, the number of hours expended on the service,
and the name of the person performing the service. See Savin v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., 85 Fed. CL. 313, 316-18 (2008). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be
presented when the motion is filed. Id. at 484 n.1. The special master has the discretion to
reduce awards sua sponte, independent of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl. 201, 208-09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed. Cl. 2008), aff’d No. 99-537V, 2008 WL 2066611
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

           b. Attorneys’ Fees

       Petitioner requests reimbursement for attorneys’ fees in the total amount of $9,474.00 for
the work performed by her attorneys, Mr. Drew Downing, Ms. Courtney Van Cott and two
paralegals that performed work on her case for 2020 and 2021. Pet. Fees Ex. A; Pet. Supp. Fees
Mot., Ex. A. Mr. Downing requests a rate of $385.00 per hour for work performed on this case
in 2020 and 2021 and a rate of $135.00 per hour for work performed by two paralegals in the
same time period.

        The requested rates have been previously awarded to Mr. Downing and Ms. Van Cott by
myself and other special masters and are consistent with the OSM Attorneys’ Rate Fee Schedule.
See, e.g., Colbath v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 17-599V, 2021 WL 1120986, at *2
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 23, 2021); Dreyer v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 18-764V,
2019 WL 6138132, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 29, 2019); Antolick v. Sec'y of Health &
Hum. Servs., No. 16-1460V, 2020 WL 524776, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Jan. 13, 2020).

           c. Hours Expended

         Attorneys’ fees are awarded for the “number of hours reasonably expended on the
litigation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. Ultimately, it is “well within the Special Master’s discretion
to reduce the hours to a number that, in [his] experience and judgment, [is] reasonable for the
work done.” Saxton ex rel. Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1522 (Fed.

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Cir. 1993). In exercising that discretion, special masters may reduce the number of hours
submitted by a percentage of the amount charged. See Broekelschen v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., 102 Fed. Cl. 719, 728-29 (2011) (affirming the special masters’ reduction of attorney and
paralegal hours); Guy v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 38 Fed. Cl. 403, 406 (1997) (affirming
the special master’s reduction of attorney and paralegal hours).

        Petitioner has provided a detailed invoice outlining the work performed by each person
who worked on her case. Based on the invoices, Mr. Downing performed at total of 13.6 hours6,
Ms. Van Cott performed a total of 7.8 hours and the two paralegals performed a total of 15.3
hours of work. While some of the work performed by the paralegals are tasks consistent with
pursuing a claim in the Vaccine Program, I find that a reduction is necessary due to entries that
appear to be duplicative and excessive. For example, on December 8, 2020, Mr. Robert Cain,
reviewed medical records received from Louisiana Cardiology Associates and updated the New
Case Medical Records Intake Form,” and on the same day Ms. Danielle Avery “analyzed the
medical records from Louisiana Cardiology Associates….and updated client Medical Records
Intake Form.” Pet. Fees App., Ex. A at 4, 7. The same occurred on December 20, 2020 for
records received from Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic, where Ms. Avery provided “analysis of
medical records received from Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic….prepare records for filing,
update client medical file; update client Medical Records Intake Form,” and Mr. Cain did the
same the following day, indicating that he “review[ed] medical records received from Baton
Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic and update the new case Medical Records Intake form.” Id. at 4 & 7.
It appears that this occurred at least two more times after medical records were obtained.
Reviewing medical records is not per se unreasonably excessive, however, when two paralegals
appear to be doing the same work and updating the same form for internal record keeping, it
becomes duplicative, especially when the petitioner has determined at the outset that they will be
opting out of the Program to pursue civil litigation.

         While acknowledging that the Vaccine Act permits petitioners to exit the program to
bring a civil action outside of the program, petitioner’s attorney should be wary of excessive and
duplicative billing, even when trying to complete the substantive work to establish a reasonable
basis for the pendency of the case. In this case, at the time of filing the petition, petitioner
decided to pursue litigation against Merck. See Petition at Preamble (stating “Petitioners are
statutorily compelled to initiate this claim prior to pursuing a cause of action against Merck
directly.”). Recognizing that the Act requires medical records and supportive documentation be
filed in the program to establish good faith and reasonable basis, petitioners intending to exit the
program in pursuit of civil litigation outside of the VICP should attempt to minimize the time
billed for analysis of the medical records, which are ultimately being used for proof in a case in
an alternative forum.

        In this case, Mr. Downing and Ms. Van Cotte’s time expenditure on this case was
directed an analyzing petitioner’s medical records, when prior to filing the petition, Mr. Downing
had discussed “opting out to sue Merck directly.” Pet. Fees App., Ex. A at 1. This time spent by
both attorneys analyzing the medical records, when paralegals were also analyzing the same
medical records is not reasonable. Accordingly, I will reduce the attorneys fee by $2,500.00 for

6
  This amount also includes the time spent in petitioner’s supplemental attorneys’ fees motion to file a reply to
respondent’s opposition to petitioner’s initial attorneys’ fees application. See Pet. Supp. Mot., Ex. A.

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duplicative billing by the paralegals and attorney time spent pursuing litigation outside the
program. Therefore, petitioner is awarded $6,974.00 in attorneys’ fees.

           d. Attorneys’ Costs

        Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). In this case, petitioner is
requesting a total of $745.40 in attorneys’ costs. Petitioner is seeking reimbursement for costs
such as filing the petition, obtaining medical records, and postage. Petitioner has provided
adequate documentation supporting these costs and they are reasonable. As such, petitioner is
awarded the requested costs in full.

   VIII. Conclusion

       In conclusion with the above, petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs are hereby
GRANTED, and petitioner is awarded $9,709.40, representing $8,974.00 in attorneys’ fees and
$735.40 in attorneys’ costs.

 Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                             $9,474.00
 (Reduction of Fees)                                                 - ($2,500.00)
 Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                         $6,974.00

 Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                            $735.40
 (Reduction of Costs)                                                    ----
 Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                        $735.40

 Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs                                      $7,709.40

       Accordingly, I award a lump sum in the amount of $7,709.40, representing
reimbursement for petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to
petitioner and her attorney, Mr. Andrew Downing.

       In absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of the
Court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                      s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      Special Master

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