Court Opinion

ID: 2681881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-03 16:00:52.119009+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:38:28.875135
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                       No. 13-124V
                                   Filed: June 11, 2014

* * * * * * * *           *   *   *   *   *  *
VILMA PETROFF,                               *      UNPUBLISHED
                                             *
               Petitioner,                   *
                                             *      Special Master Dorsey
v.                                           *
                                             *      Attorney’s Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                          *      Reasonable Amount Requested to which
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          *      Respondent Does not Object.
                                             *
               Respondent.                   *
                                             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Justine E. Daigneault, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS DECISION 1

        On February 15, 2013, Vilma Petroff (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Ms.
Petroff alleged that she received an influenza vaccination on October 28, 2010, and that she
thereafter suffered from brachial plexus neuropathy which was caused in fact by the vaccination.
Petition at 1-2. On May 20, 2014, a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the
parties’ stipulation was entered.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this decision on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). 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). Otherwise, the entire decision will be available to the
public. Id.
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 (2006) (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
        On June 11, 2014, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact Concerning Final Attorneys’ Fees
and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties stipulate to an award to petitioner of
attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $21,066.94. In accordance with General Order #9,
petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner did not incur any costs in pursuit of this claim.

        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 the parties’ stipulation, the undersigned GRANTS
the request for approval and payment of attorney’s fees and costs.

       Accordingly, an award should be made as follows:

           in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and Jeffrey S. Pop, of Jeffrey S.
           Pop & Associates, in the amount of $21,066.94.

        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. 3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                               s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               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