Court Opinion

ID: 6497598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-04 13:01:00.184816+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:15.233868
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1442V
                                        (not to be published)

    DOMINIQUE ROBERTS,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: May 31, 2022

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

                         Respondent.

Jessica Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

      On October 22, 2020, Dominique Roberts 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 she experienced a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration as a result of the administration of a human papillomavirus vaccine
on January 19, 2018. (Petition at 1). On January 19, 2022, a decision was issued
awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 22).

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

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 for attorney’s fees and costs, dated April 20,
2022, (ECF No. 42), requesting a total award of $20,755.19 (representing $19,728.00 in
fees and $1,027.19 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, counsel for
Petitioner represents that Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 2).
Respondent reacted to the motion on April 26, 2022, indicating that he is satisfied the
statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case,
deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded at the Court’s discretion. (ECF No. 29).
Petitioner filed a reply on April 27, 2022, requesting the fees and costs be awarded in full.
(ECF No. 30).

      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, Petitioner is awarded the total amount of $20,755.19 3 as follows:

    •   Per Petitioner’s request, a lump sum of $20,525.98, representing
        reimbursement for fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
        Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel. The check should be forwarded to
        Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota
        Florida 34236;

    •   A lump sum of $229.21, representing reimbursement for fees and costs in
        the form of a check payable to Petitioner’s former counsel, Stephen I.
        Leshner, P.C. The check should be forwarded to 5635 N. Scottsdale Rd.,
        Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250.

      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. 4

3 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).
4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
                                                    2
IT IS SO ORDERED.

                        s/Brian H. Corcoran
                        Brian H. Corcoran
                        Chief Special Master

                    3