Court Opinion

ID: 6317408
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-24 22:01:46.601535+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:34.920619
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    Filed: January 14, 2022

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                UNPUBLISHED
ANGELIA R. ANDREWS,        *
                           *
         Petitioner,       *                               No. 16-196V
                           *                               Special Master Oler
v.                         *
                           *                               Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
         Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fred A. O’Neill, Perkins & O’Neill, LLC, Thayer, MO, for Petitioner.
Christine M. Becer, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On February 28, 2016, Angelia Andrews (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 alleging that she suffered
connective tissue disease as a result of either the Pneumovax or the influenza vaccinations she
received on August 2, 2014. Pet. at 1. On October 21, 2021, the undersigned issued her decision
dismissing the petition for insufficient proof. (ECF No. 59)

       On October 28, 2021, Petitioner filed an application for final attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 60). (“Fees App.”). Petitioner requests total attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
$6,680.20, representing $560.20 in attorneys’ fees and $6,120.00 in attorneys’ costs.3 Respondent
1
  The undersigned intends to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This
means the Ruling 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,
the undersigned is 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).
2
    National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
3
  The undersigned notes that Petitioner’s motion requests payment of $6,620.00 Fees App. at 1. However,
this amount appears to be miscalculated based upon the attorneys’ fees invoice totaling $560.20 and the
two expert invoices totaling $6,120.00.
responded to the motion on November 12, 2021, stating that “Respondent is satisfied the statutory
requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case” and requesting that the
undersigned “exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and
costs.” Resp’t’s Resp. at 2. (ECF No. 61). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

       This matter is now ripe for consideration.

I.     Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

        Section 15(e) (1) of the Vaccine Act allows for the Special Master to award “reasonable
attorneys' fees, and other costs.” § 300aa–15(e)(1)(A)–(B). Petitioners are entitled to an award of
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if they are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act, or,
even if they are unsuccessful, they are eligible so long as the Special Master finds that the petition
was filed in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515
F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Here, the undersigned previously determined the claim
possessed good faith and reasonable basis in awarding interim attorneys’ fees and costs on April
16, 2019 (ECF No. 39), and the claim maintained good faith and reasonable basis until it was
dismissed by the undersigned’s reasoned decision. Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled to a final
award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

        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).

        Reasonable hourly rates are determined by looking at the “prevailing market rate” in the
relevant community. See Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 (1984). 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.

       a. Reasonable Hourly Rates

        Petitioner requests that her attorney, Mr. Fred O’Neill, be compensated at $200.00 per hour
for all work performed in this case. The undersigned accepted this hourly rate as reasonable when
awarding interim attorneys’ fees and finds that it is still reasonable for the work billed for in the
instant motion.

       b. Reasonable Hours Expended

         Attorneys' fees are awarded for the “number of hours reasonably expended on the
litigation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are
“excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton, 3 F.3d at 1521 (quoting Hensley v.

                                                  2
Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)). Additionally, it is well-established that billing for
administrative/clerical tasks is not permitted in the Vaccine Program. Rochester v. United States,
18 Cl. Ct. 379, 387 (1989); Arranga v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 02-1616V, 2018 WL
2224959, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 12, 2018).

         The overall hours spent on this matter appear to be largely reasonable. However, the
undersigned notes that $120.00 was billed on filing documents. The undersigned previously noted
to counsel that such tasks should not be billed for. Andrews v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
No. 16-196V, 2019 WL 3408929, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 16, 2019). The undersigned
shall therefore not compensate this time. Petitioner is therefore awarded final attorneys’ fees of
$440.20.

         c. Attorneys’ Costs

         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). Petitioner requests
a total of $6,120.00 in attorneys’ costs for the work of her expert, Dr. Zizic. The undersigned finds
these costs to be reasonable and supported with adequate documentation, and they shall be fully
reimbursed.

II.      Conclusion

        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 is reasonable. The undersigned finds that it is reasonable to compensate Petitioner and her
counsel as follows:

    Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                               $560.20
    (Reduction to Fees)                                                   - ($120.00)
    Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                           $440.20

    Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                            $6,120.00
    (Reduction to Costs)                                                      -
    Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                        $6,120.00

    Total Amount Awarded                                                  $6,560.20

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards a lump sum in the amount of $6,560.20,
representing reimbursement for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check
payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel of record, Mr. Fred. O’Neill.

        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.4

4
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
Vaccine Rule 11(a).

                                                    3
IT IS SO ORDERED.

                    s/ Katherine E. Oler
                    Katherine E. Oler
                    Special Master

                      4