Court Opinion

ID: 2719379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-20 20:01:21.714456+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:39:49.141965
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 08-792V
                                          Filed: July 28, 2014
                                         (Not to be Published)

*************************
                                          *
BRIAN LONG and KIMBERLY LONG, *
as parents and natural guardians of their *
minor son, B.C.L.,                        *                              Decision on Interim Attorneys’
                                          *                              Fees and Costs
                                          *
                       Petitioners,       *
                                          *
               v.                         *
                                          *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   *
HUMAN SERVICES                            *
                                          *
                       Respondent.        *
                                          *
*************************

          DECISION AWARDING INTERIM ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1
HASTINGS, Special Master.

        On November 4, 2008, Petitioners filed a Petition for Vaccine Compensation in the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”),2 alleging that B.C.L. was
injured by a vaccine or vaccines listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. See § 14. On July 23, 2014,
the parties filed a stipulation concerning interim attorney’s fees and costs incurred in this matter

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this
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 request 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.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, “the entire” decision will be available to the
public. Id.
2
  The Program comprises 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-10 et seq. (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereafter,
individual section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.

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between April 22, 2008 and April 28, 2014. The parties’ stipulation requests a total payment of
$110,500.82, representing $109,500.00 for attorneys’ fees and costs, and $1000.82 for costs
incurred by Petitioners. Respondent does not object to an award of these amounts.
        I find that an award of interim attorneys’ fees and costs is appropriate in this case.
Interim attorneys’ fees and costs are explicitly authorized by the binding precedent of the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Avera v. HHS, 515 F.3d. 1343; Shaw v. HHS,
609 F.3d 1372, 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (“the Vaccine Act permits [an] award of interim fees and
costs”); Cloer v. HHS, 675 F.3d 1358, 1361-62 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (“Congress made clear that
denying interim attorneys’ fees under the Vaccine Act is contrary to an underlying purpose of the
Vaccine Act.”). See also Vaccine Rule 13(b).
        The request for interim attorneys’ fees and costs is hereby granted. Petitioners are
awarded reasonable interim attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to §§ 15(b) and (e)(1), as I find
that the petition was brought in good faith and upon a reasonable basis, and the amounts
requested are reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award the following attorneys’
fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1):
        •        a lump sum of $109,500.00, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioners
                 and Petitioners’ counsel, Sheila A. Bjorklund, on account of services performed
                 by counsel’s law firm.
        •        a lump sum of $1000.82, in the form of a check payable to Petitioners, which
                 represents Petitioner’s own litigation expenses in this case.

       In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review filed pursuant to Appendix B of the
Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in
accordance herewith.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                              /s/ George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                                  George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                                  Special Master

3
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. See
Vaccine Rule 11(a).

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