Court Opinion

ID: 3170697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-20 14:01:57.255378+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:58:38.693285
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-745V
                                   Filed: November 13, 2015
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
KATHLEEN FARINA,                                  *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
                v.                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Stipulation
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Rick M. Schoenfield, DiVincenzo, Schoenfield, and Swartzman, Chicago, IL, for
petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On August 19, 2014, 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 the result of an influenza [“flu”] vaccination on
October 11, 2012, she suffered from Guillain Barre Syndrome [“GBS”]. On September
9, 2015, a decision issued awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’
stipulation.

       On November 13, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Concerning
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties stipulate to an

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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).
award of $ 17,195.00 representing all attorney and paralegal fees and costs, and an
award of $400.00 representing petitioner’s personally incurred out-of-pockets costs.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42
U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the
lack of any objection by respondent, the undersigned GRANTS the request for approval
and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

        Accordingly, the undersigned awards:

             1. $17,195.00 in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and
                petitioner’s counsel, Rick Schoenfield; and

             2. $400.00 in the form of a check solely payable to petitioner. 3

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

3
 These amounts are 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, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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, HHS, 924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).

4
  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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