Court Opinion

ID: 4096294
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-08 13:03:12.02914+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:11.387691
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 16-040V
                                   Filed: September 13, 2016
                                           Unpublished
*********************************
ANN STONEBURNER,                                  *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Diana Sedar, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Darryl Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

         On January 8, 2016, 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 alleged that as a result of receiving the high-dose influenza
(“flu”) vaccine on September 9, 2014, she suffered an injury to her left shoulder. On
August 5, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner
based on the respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 26).

       On August 16, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. (ECF No. 30). 3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $11,201.80

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the

undersigned intends 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). 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.

2National 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).
3In the motion, petitioner states that respondent has no objection to the overall amount sought, as it is not
an unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings in this case to date.
and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,071.82 for a total amount of $12,273.62. Id. at
1. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition
from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs.

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $12,273.62 4 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Diana L. Stadelnikas Sedar. 5

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 6

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

4This 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).

5Petitioner requests that the award for attorneys’ fees and costs be forwarded to Maglio Christopher &
Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota, FL 34236

6 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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