Court Opinion

ID: 2745549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-24 20:03:15.81484+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:41:23.895497
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 14-19V
                                    Filed: September 24, 2014

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                               UNPUBLISHED
KIM EILEEN RICH,              *
                              *                               Special Master Gowen
           Petitioner,        *
                              *                               Motion for attorneys’ fees and costs;
v.                            *
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
           Respondent.        *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sol P. Ajalat, Ajalat & Ajalat, North Hollywood, CA, for petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                     DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On January 7, 2014, Kim Eileen Rich (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006).
Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving a Tetanus-diptheria-acellular-pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccine on January 12, 2011, she developed an acquired demyelinating neuropathy, likely
Guillain Barre Syndrome (“GBS”). Petition ¶¶ 3, 8, filed Jan. 7, 2014. On September 23, 2014,
the parties filed a stipulation in which they agreed to an award of compensation to petitioner. On
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, 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 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 (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.

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that same day, I issued a Decision adopting the parties’ stipulation for an award. See Decision
on J. Stip., filed Sept. 23, 2014.

        On September 18, 2014, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Petitioner requests a total award of attorneys’ fees in the amount of $20,500.00. In
accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel states that petitioner personally incurred
costs related to the prosecution of this case in the amount of $580.14. See Motion for Fees and
Costs, filed Sept. 18, 2014. On September 24, 2014, my chambers confirmed with respondent’s
counsel that petitioner’s motion for fees is not opposed and that a decision can be issued on this
matter.

       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 motion, the undersigned GRANTS the
request for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

       Accordingly, an award should be made as follows:

       (1) in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorney, Sol B.
       Ajalat, of Ajalat & Ajalat, LLP, in the amount of $20,500.00, and

       (2) in the form of a check payable to petitioner only in the amount of $580.14.

       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.

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