Court Opinion

ID: 4766440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-17 20:06:02.604327+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:17.706458
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                             No. 18-39V
                                        (not to be published)

    DEAN LESLIE,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: July 14, 2021

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

                         Respondent.

Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Colleen Clemons Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

       On January 8, 2018, Dean Leslie, M.D. 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration, a defined Table Injury, after receiving the influenza vaccine on September
30, 2016. (Petition at ¶¶ 1, 14, 17). On January 28, 2021, a decision was issued awarding
compensation to Petitioner in the amount of $131,321.86. (ECF No. 77).
1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 section ref erences 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 June 14,
2021 (ECF No. 82), requesting an award of $91,594.83 (representing $89,875.80 in fees
and $1,719.03 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a signed
statement indicating that he incurred out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of $866.99.
(ECF No. 82-3). Respondent reacted to the motion on June 18, 2021, indicating that he
is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are
met in this case, but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion.
(ECF No. 83). On June 18, 2021, Petitioner filed a reply requesting fees and costs be
awarded in full. (ECF No. 84).

       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 $92,461.82 3
as follows:

            •    A lump sum of $91,594.83, representing reimbursement for
                 attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel; and

            •    A lump sum of $866.99, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

            •    Petitioner requests checks be forwarded to Maglio Christopher &
                 Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota, Florida 34236.

      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 f iling 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