Court Opinion

ID: 4464319
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-13 21:02:08.28139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:40.975010
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                   Filed: November 18, 2019

* * * * * * * * * * * * *  *
GLENDA C. VAUGHTERS,       *                               No. 18-581V
                           *                               Special Master Sanders
     Petitioner,           *
                           *
v.                         *
                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                               Attorney’s Fees and Costs
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
            Respondent.    *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nancy R. Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner.
Linda S. Renzi, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

       On April 23, 2018, Glenda C. Vaughters (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34
(2012). Petitioner alleged that she developed aseptic meningitis as a result of the pneumococcal
vaccine she received on February 23, 2016. Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. On July 10, 2019, Petitioner filed
a motion to voluntarily dismiss her petition, and on July 25, 2019, the undersigned issued her
Decision dismissing the petition for insufficient proof. ECF No. 23.

       On August 16, 2019, Petitioner filed an application for attorney’s fees and costs. ECF No.
24 (“Fees App.”). Petitioner requests total attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $7,999.00

1
  The undersigned intends 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,
the undersigned is 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
 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
(representing $7,307.00 in fees and $692.00 in costs). Fees App. at 1. Pursuant to General Order
No. 9, Petitioner warrants that she has not incurred any costs related to the prosecution of her
petition. Fees App. Ex. 1 at 2. Respondent responded to the motion on August 29, 2019, deferring
to the undersigned’s discretion as to whether the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s
fees and costs are met and, if so, to determine a reasonable amount of fees and costs. Resp’t’s
Resp. at 2 (ECF No. 27). Petitioner filed a Reply on August 29, 2019, concurring with
Respondent’s recommendation that the undersigned exercise her discretion and determine a
reasonable award for attorney’s fees and costs. Reply at 1 (ECF No. 28).

       This matter is now ripe for consideration.

I.     Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

        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, the undersigned does not doubt that the petition was filed
in good faith, and although the petition was eventually dismissed, the undersigned finds that there
was reasonable basis to file the petition. Respondent has also not challenged the reasonable basis
of the petition. Accordingly, a final award of fees is appropriate.

        It is “well within the special master’s discretion” to determine the reasonableness of fees.
Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521–22 (Fed. Cir. 1993); see also Hines
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 22 Cl. Ct. 750, 753 (1991). (“[T]he reviewing court must grant
the special master wide latitude in determining the reasonableness of both attorneys’ fees and
costs.”). Applications for attorney’s fees must include contemporaneous and specific billing
records that indicate the work performed and the number of hours spent on said work. See Savin
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313, 316–18 (2008). Such applications, however,
should not include hours that are “‘excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.’” Saxton, 3
F.3d at 1521 (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)).

        Reasonable hourly rates are determined by looking at the “prevailing market rate” in the
relevant community. See Blum, 465 U.S. at 895. The “prevailing market rate” is akin to the rate
“in the community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience and
reputation.” Id. at 895, n.11. Petitioners bear the burden of providing adequate evidence to prove
that the requested hourly rate is reasonable. Id.

       a. Hourly Rates

        The decision in McCulloch provides a framework for consideration of appropriate ranges
for attorney’s fees based upon the experience of the practicing attorney. McCulloch v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1,
2015), motion for recons. denied, 2015 WL 6181910 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21, 2015). The

                                                  2
Court has since updated the McCulloch rates, and the Attorneys’ Forum Hourly Rate Fee
Schedules for 2015–2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 can be accessed online.3

        Petitioner requests the following rates for the work of her attorney, Ms. Nancy Meyers:
$350.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, $375.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, and
$390.00 per hour for work performed in 2019. Petitioner also requests paralegal rates of $145.00
per hour for all work performed. These rates are consistent with what Ms. Meyers and Ward Black
Law paralegals have previously been awarded for their Vaccine Program work and are reasonable
for the work performed in this case.

       b. Hours Expended

         Attorney’s fees are awarded for the “number of hours reasonably expended on the
litigation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are
“excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton, 3 F.3d at 1521.

        Upon review, the undersigned finds the billed hours to be reasonable. Counsel has provided
sufficiently detailed descriptions for the tasks performed, and upon review the undersigned does
not find any of the billing entries to be unreasonable. Respondent has also not indicated that he
finds any of the billing entries to be unreasonable. Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled to final
attorney’s fees in the amount of $7,307.00.

       c. Attorneys’ Costs

         Like attorney’s fees, a request for reimbursement of attorney’s costs must be reasonable.
Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests
a total of $692.00 in costs. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical records and the Court’s
filing fee. Petitioner has provided adequate documentation to support these costs and in the
undersigned’s experience they are reasonable. Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled to the full amount
of costs sought.

II.    Conclusion

       Based on all the above, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to the following
award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs:

3
 The 2015–2016 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule2015-2016.pdf. The
2017 Fee Schedule can be accessed at: http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-
Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf. The 2018 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys%27%20Forum%20Rate%20Fee%20Schedule
%202018.pdf. The 2019 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys%27%20Forum%20Rate%20Fee%20Schedule
%202019.pdf. The hourly rates contained within the schedules are updated from the decision in
McCulloch, 2015 WL 5634323.

                                                   3
    Attorney’s Fees Requested                                              $7,307.00
    (Reduction to Fees)                                                        -
    Total Attorney’s Fees Awarded                                          $7,307.00

    Attorney’s Costs Requested                                              $692.00
    (Reduction of Costs)                                                       -
    Total Attorney’s Costs Awarded                                          $692.00

    Total Attorney’s Fees and Costs                                        $7,999.00

        In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned has
reviewed the billing records and costs in this case and finds that Petitioner’s request for fees and
costs is reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned awards the following:

      1) A lump sum in the amount of $7,999.00, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
         attorney’s fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and her
         attorney, Ms. Nancy Meyers.

       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/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                                 Herbrina D. Sanders
                                                 Special Master

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).

                                                     4