Court Opinion

ID: 4390466
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-24 20:01:43.686979+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:17.770197
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                  Filed: April 4, 2019

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JOY PLEASANT,              *
                           *
     Petitioner,           *                         No. 17-610V
                           *                         Special Master Sanders
v.                         *
                           *                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
            Respondent.    *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Howard S. Gold, Gold Law Firm, LLC, Wellesley Hills, MA, for Petitioner.
Christine M. Becer, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On May 8, 2017, Joy Pleasant (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation pursuant to
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012).
Petitioner alleged that she suffered Post-Herpetic Neuralgia, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Facial
Palsy, and Right VII Nerve Paralysis as a result of the Hepatitis B vaccination she received on
May 7, 2014. Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. On November 26, 2018, Petitioner filed a motion to voluntarily
dismiss her petition, and on November 28, 2018, the undersigned issued her Decision dismissing
the petition for insufficient proof. ECF No. 32.

         On December 22, 2018, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. ECF

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 Because this unpublished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.
No. 33 (“Fees App.”). Petitioner requests total attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
$21,568.20 (representing $18,226.00 in fees and $3,342.20 in costs). Fees App at 3. Pursuant to
General Order No. 9, Petitioner has stated that she has not incurred any out-of-pocket costs in
pursuit of her claim. Id. Respondent reacted to the motion on February 5, 2019, indicating 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 2-3 (ECF No. 36). 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 does not doubt that the petition was filed
in good faith, and although the petition was eventually dismissed, the undersigned finds that there
was reasonable basis to file the petition. Respondent has also not challenged the reasonable basis
of the petition. Accordingly, a final award of fees is appropriate.

         The Federal Circuit has approved the lodestar approach to determine reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs under the Vaccine Act. Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. This is a two-step process. Id. First,
a court determines an “initial estimate ... by ‘multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended
on the litigation times a reasonable hourly rate.’” Id. at 1347–48 (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465
U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). Second, the court may make an upward or downward departure from the
initial calculation of the fee award based on specific findings. Id. at 1348.

        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, 465 U.S. at 895. 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. Hourly Rates

                                                  2
        The decision in McCulloch provides a framework for consideration of appropriate ranges
for attorneys’ fees based upon the experience of the practicing attorney. McCulloch v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1,
2015), motion for recons. denied, 2015 WL 6181910 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21, 2015). The
Court has since updated the McCulloch rates, and the Attorneys Forum Hourly Rate Fee Schedules
for 2015-2016, 2017, and 2018 can be accessed online.3

        Petitioner requests that her attorney, Mr. Howard Gold, be compensated at the following
rates: $360.00 per hour for work performed in 2015, $370.00 per hour for work performed in 2016,
$380.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, and $390.00 per hour for work performed in 2018.
Fees App. at 5-9. Petitioner also requests that Mr. Gold’s paralegal be compensated at $125.00 per
hour for all work performed. Id. The undersigned finds that the requested rates are in conformance
with what Mr. Gold and his paralegal have consistently been awarded for their work in the Vaccine
Program. Accordingly, no adjustment to the requested rates is necessary.

        b. 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 v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 3
F.3d 1517, 1521 (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)).

        Upon review, the undersigned finds the hours billed in this matter to be reasonable. The
entries accurately reflect the nature of the task, and the time billed on these entries appears to be
reasonable in the undersigned’s experience. Respondent also has not identified any particular
entries as objectionable. Petitioner is therefore entitled to the full amount of attorneys’ fees sought,
$18,226.00.

        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 $3,342.20 in costs, covering the cost of medical records, the Court’s filing fee, travel
costs to meet with Petitioner, and the expert work of Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne. Fees App. at 11.
Petitioner has provided adequate documentation for all these costs, and the undersigned finds them
all to be reasonable. Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled to a full reimbursement of costs, $3,342.20.
3
 The 2015-2016 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule2015-
2016.pdf. The 2017 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf.
The 2018 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys%27%20Forum%20Rate%20Fee%20S
chedule%202018.pdf. The hourly rates contained within the schedules are updated from the
decision in McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).

                                                   3
II.      Conclusion

       Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to the following
award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs:

    Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                         $18,226.00
    (Reduction to Fees)                                                    -
    Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                     $18,226.00

    Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                        $3,342.20
    (Reduction of Costs)                                                  -
    Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                    $3,342.20

    Total Amount Awarded                                              $21,568.20

         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. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards a total of $21,568.20 to be issued
in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Howard
Gold, of Gold Law Firm, LLC, for attorneys’ fees and costs.

        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

         IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Special Master

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).
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