Court Opinion

ID: 4910735
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-14 13:07:30.304084+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:27.351126
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1056V
                                        (not to be published)

    SUSAN FAUSNAUGH,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: August 11, 2021

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Attorney’s Fees and Costs

                         Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

        On July 22, 2019, Susan Fausnaugh (“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 a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on October 18,
2017. (Petition at 1). On April 8, 2021, a decision was issued awarding compensation to
Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 37).

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am
required 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 “§” ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated July 14, 2021,
(ECF No. 42), requesting an award of $22,810.20 (representing $21,673.65 in fees and
$1,136.55 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a signed
statement indicating that Petitioner incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of
$6.70. (ECF No. 43). Respondent reacted to the motion on July 15, 2021, indicating that
he is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs
are met in this case, and defers resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion.
(ECF No. 44). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

       I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my
experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested
hours or rates.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Section
15(e). Accordingly, petitioner is awarded the total amount of $22,816.90 as follows:

       •A lump sum of $22,810.20, representing reimbursement for fees and costs,
in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel and;

       •A lump sum of $6.70, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s costs, in
the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

      In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of
the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                      s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                                      Brian H. Corcoran
                                                      Chief Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by f iling a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
                                                  2