Court Opinion

ID: 4468189
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-30 17:01:57.534264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:46:50.968196
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0014 V
                                      (not to be published)

    ANTHONY CAPASSO,
                                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran
                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Filed: November 15, 2019

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

                        Respondent.

Shealene Priscilla Mancuso, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

       On January 4, 2017, Anthony Capasso (“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” or “Program”), alleging that as a result of receiving
an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on November 14, 2015, he suffered a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) to his left shoulder. (Petition at 1). On July
10, 2019, a decision was issued awarding compensation to Petitioner in the amount of
$75,190.0. (ECF No. 45.)

1I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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. Because this unpublished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).

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 October 24,
2019, (ECF No. 49), requesting a total award of $26,255.53 (representing $25,833.70 in
fees and $421.83 in costs). In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner’s counsel
represents that Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 2.) Respondent did
not file a response thereafter.

       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. §
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
award a total of $26,255.53 (representing $25,833.70 in fees and $421.83 in costs) as a
lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and counsel, Shealene
Priscilla Mancuso, Esq. 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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

3 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