Court Opinion

ID: 3149408
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-26 16:01:53.1738+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:11:53.132931
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-840V
                                      Filed: October 5, 2015

*************************                           UNPUBLISHED
MICHAEL SCHIFFGENS,                        *
                                           *       Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
                      Petitioner,          *
v.                                         *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Reasonable
                                           *       Amount Requested to which Respondent
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *       Does Not Object.
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
                      Respondent.          *
*************************
John R. Howie, Jr., Howie Law, P.C., Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                               DECISION1

         On September 10, 2014, Michael Schiffgens (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1
et seq. (2006) (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that the administration of a Tetanus-
Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on September 6, 2011 caused him to suffer from
Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Petition (“Pet.”) at 1-9. On August 21, 2015, the undersigned filed a
decision awarding compensation to Petitioner. Decision, ECF No. 33.

        On October 5, 2015, Petitioner filed a “Stipulation of Facts Concerning Attorneys’ Fees
and Costs”. Pursuant to their Stipulation, the parties have agreed to an award of $30,000.00 in
attorneys’ fees and costs. In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner’s counsel represents
that Petitioner has not incurred any costs in pursuit of his claim. Stipulation, ECF No. 38.

        The undersigned finds that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a
reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate, pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems reasonable and
appropriate. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $30,000.00, in the

1
 The undersigned intends to post this unpublished decision 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)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each
party has 14 days within which to file a motion for redaction “of any information furnished by that party
(1) that is trade secret or commercial or financial information and is privileged or confidential, or (2) that
are medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion
of privacy.” In the absence of such motion, the entire decision will be available to the public. Id.

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form of a check made payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, John R. Howie,
Jr.

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.2

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                   /s/ Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                                   Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                                   Special Master

        2
          Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.

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