Court Opinion

ID: 4685349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-10 12:02:35.861383+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:27.490917
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED

    In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 19-415V
                                        (not to be published)

    TONYA LEMAY,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: April 5, 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.

Kyle Edward Pozza, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

       On March 19, 2019, Tonya LeMay 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 which meets the definition for a Table SIRVA Injury after receiving the
influenza vaccine on November 4, 2016. (Petition at 1). On January 12, 2021, a decision
was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF
No. 32).

      Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated March 17,
2021 (ECF No. 37), requesting an award of $24,851.54 (representing $23,973.90 in fees

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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.
and $877.64 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a signed
statement indicating that she incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of $6.00.
(ECF No. 38). Respondent did not file a response.

       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, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and
costs. I award a total of $24,857.54 2 as follows:

            •    A lump sum of $24,851.54, representing reimbursement for
                 attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Ronald Craig Homer; and

            •    A lump sum of $6.00, 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

2
 This 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).
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