Court Opinion

ID: 4315747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-26 20:02:14.514667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:42.473547
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-0308V
                                      Filed: June 22, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    ALAN L. JONES,

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

                       Respondent.

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On March 9, 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 he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of
an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 16, 2014. Petition at preamble.
On September 8, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on the respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 41).

       On March 12, 2018, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 48). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $40,992.50 and attorneys’
costs in the amount of $15,937.76. Id. at 2. In compliance with General Order #9,

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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

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 filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket
expenses. Id. at 2. Thus, the total amount requested is $56,930.26.

        On March 22, 2018, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No.
49). Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13
contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 1. Respondent adds, however, that he “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully recommends that the Chief Special
Master exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees
and costs.” Id. at 3.

        Petitioner has filed no reply.

      The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, and the
undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates, with the following
exception regarding attorney costs.

       The billing invoices submitted for attorney costs include hotel accommodations in
Atlanta from Friday, March 17, 2017 through Sunday, March 19, 2017. However,
attorney billing records show that Mr. Carney billed time working on this case only on
Friday, March 17, 2017. 3 Mr. Carney did not bill for work performed on this case on
any additional days during his time in Atlanta. Therefore the second night of room
charges are not compensable. Due to the extended stay in Atlanta, and additional day
of parking was incurred. The undersigned will reduce the request for costs regarding
the second night of hotel charges and taxes associated with those charges and the
additional day of parking. 4 This results in a reduction of costs requested by $275.40.

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

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $56,654.86 5 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Lawrence R. Cohan.
3The invoice submitted for this charges reflects a total of $513.60. (ECF 48-1 at 50). One night hotel plus
associated taxes is $241.50.
4Receipts indicate parking was charged at $24 a day for three days.
5This 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).

                                                     2
        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

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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