Court Opinion

ID: 3217442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-28 12:06:31.141769+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:19.475510
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 15-441V
                                       Filed: June 1, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                              UNPUBLISHED
HERBERT MORGAN,               *
                              *
                              *                              Special Master Gowen
          Petitioner,         *
                              *
v.                            *                              Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
          Respondent.         *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Elizabeth M. Muldowney, Rawls, McNelis & Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Julia W. McInerny, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                    DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On May 1, 2015, Herbert Morgan (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged
that as a result of receiving Tetanus-Diptheria-acellular-Pertussis, Measles-Mumps-Rubella,
and/or Hepatitis A vaccinations on May 15, 2012, he suffered erythema multiforme major, multi-
organ failure, cardiomyopathy, and ischemic optic neuropathy with permanent blindness. On April
4, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they agreed to an award of compensation to
1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal
Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). As provided by Vaccine Rule
18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by
that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or
confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b).
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.

                                                1
petitioner. On April 7, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision adopting the parties’ stipulation for
an award. See Decision on J. Stip., filed Apr. 7, 2016.

        On June 1, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed application for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Petitioner requested an award of $22,500.00 for attorneys’ fees and costs. See Application for Fees
and Costs at 3, filed June 1, 2016. Pursuant to General Order #9, petitioner also requested $500.00
as reimbursement for costs personally incurred. Id. Respondent does not object to the overall
amount requested by petitioner, but notes that the lack of objection should not be construed as an
admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours requested,
or other litigation related costs. Id. at 2, n.1.

       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 unopposed request, the undersigned
GRANTS the request for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs and petitioner’s out-
of-pocket litigation expenses.

       Accordingly, an award should be made as follows:

       (1)     in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorney,
               Elizabeth M. Muldowney, of Rawls, McNelis & Mitchell, P.C., in the amount
               of $22,500.00; and

       (2)     in the form of a check payable to petitioner only, in the amount of $500.00.

       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.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                 2