Court Opinion

ID: 4467169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-23 21:01:49.490483+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:24.715892
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 18-0674V
                                      (not to be published)

    PAULA ROSSELET,
                                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran
                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Date: October 25, 2019

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

                        Respondent.

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On May 11, 2018, Paula Rosselet, (“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”), alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) following the receipt of influenza (“flu”);’ Tetanus, diphtheria,
acellular pertussis (“Tdap”); and measles, mumps, and rubella (“MMR”) vaccinations.
(Petition at 1). On September 3, 2019, a decision was issued by then Chief Special
Master Nora Beth Dorsey awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s
proffer. (ECF No. 31).

1 Although I have not designated this Decision for publication, it will be made available 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). 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
         Petitioner has now filed a motion requesting attorney’s fees and costs, dated
October 4, 2019 (ECF No. 36.), requesting a total award of $11,477.13 (representing
$10,971.50 in fees plus $505.63 in costs). Pursuant to General Order #9, counsel for
Petitioner represents that Petitioner has not incurred out-of-pocket costs in pursuit of this
litigation. Id. Respondent reacted to the motion on October 7, 2019, indicating that he is
satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met
in this case, and deferring to the courts discretion to determine the amount to be awarded.
(ECF No. 37). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. §
15(e). I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s initial request, and
based on my discretion and Vaccine Program experience, I find the requested hourly
rates and work performed to be reasonable. I therefore approve the requested amount
for attorney’s fees and costs.

       Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. I
award a total of $11,477.13 (representing $10,971.50 in attorney’s fees and $505.63 in
costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and her counsel,
Paul R. Brazil, Esq. 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 filing a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
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