Court Opinion

ID: 4576811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-10-14 21:01:23.994082+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:18.777188
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                      Filed: September 11, 2020

* * * * * * * * * * * * *  *
KEITH MCCARVILLE,          *                                     UNPUBLISHED
                           *
         Petitioner,       *                                     No. 18-424V
                           *                                     Special Master Gowen
v.                         *
                           *                                     Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
         Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bridget C. McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Ryan D. Pyles, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On May 5, 2020, Keith McCarville (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Petitioner’s Motion for Attorney Fees (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 38). For the reasons
discussed below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and awards a total of
$12,579.05.

    I.        Procedural History

        On March 22, 2018, Petitioner filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program.2 Petitioner alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration as
a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on September 24, 2016. Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1). On
March 24, 2020, the parties filed a stipulation, which I adopted as my decision awarding

1
  I intend to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the ruling 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 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this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
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (“Vaccine
Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
compensation on the same day. (ECF No. 32).

        On May 5, 2020, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner requests
compensation for her attorney, Mr. Isaiah Kalinowski, in the total amount of $12,579.05,
representing $11,819.00 in attorneys’ fees and $760.05 in costs. Fees App. at 2. Pursuant to
General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants he has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of his
claim. Id. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on May 5, 2020, stating that “Respondent is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case.”
Response at 2 (ECF No. 38). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

         The matter is now ripe for adjudication.

   II.      Analysis

         Section 15(e) (1) of the Vaccine Act allows for the Special Master to award “reasonable
attorneys' fees, and other costs.” § 300aa–15(e)(1)(A)–(B). Petitioners are entitled to an award of
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if they are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act, or,
even if they are unsuccessful, they are eligible so long as the Special Master finds that the petition
was filed in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515
F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Here, because Petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant
to a stipulation, he is entitled to a final award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

         Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and
the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482,
484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is
filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent
of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed.
Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed.
Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

                a. Attorneys’ Fees

        Petitioner requests the following rates for the work of his counsel: for Ms. Bridget
McCullough, $225.00 per hour for work performed in 2018 and 2019, and $250.00 per hour for
work performed in 2020; for Mr. Max Muller, $300.00 per hour for work performed in 2017,
$317.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, and $325.00 per hour for work performed in 2019;
and for Ms. Amy Senerth, $225.00 per hour for work performed in 2017. These rates are consistent
with what counsel at Muller Brazil, LLP have previously been awarded for their Vaccine Program
work, and I find them to be reasonable for the work performed in this case as well.

        Turning next to review of the submitted billing statement, I find that the overall hours spent
on this matter appear to be reasonable. The entries are reasonable and accurately describe the work
being performed and the length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not
identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final
attorneys’ fees of $11,819.00.

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                  b. Attorneys’ Costs

         Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $760.05. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical records,
postage, and the Court’s filing fee. Petitioner has provided adequate supporting documentation for
all the costs, and they appear to be reasonable upon review. Accordingly, Petitioner is awarded the
full amount of attorneys’ costs sought.

      III.     Conclusion

       In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is
GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as
follows:

    Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                                     $11,819.00
    (Reduction of Fees)                                                                -
    Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                                 $11,819.00

    Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                                      $760.05
    (Reduction of Costs)                                                               -
    Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                                  $760.05

    Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs                                               $12,579.05

       Accordingly, I award a lump sum in the amount of $12,579.05, representing
reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner and his attorney, Ms. Bridget McCullough.3

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

             IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                      /s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      Thomas L. Gowen
                                                      Special Master

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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine
Rule 11(a).

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