Court Opinion

ID: 4101346
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-22 21:03:54.239496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:29.732787
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 14-258V
                                    Filed: October 25, 2016

*************************
LAUREN NATALIE LEE,        *                                  UNPUBLISHED
                           *
                           *                                  Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
               Petitioner, *
                           *
v.                         *                                  Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
                           *                                  Reasonable Amount Requested
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                  to which Respondent Does Not
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                                  Object.
                           *
               Respondent. *
*************************

Mark L. Krueger, Krueger & Hernandez, S.C., Baraboo, WI, for Petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                            DECISION1

        On April 2, 2014, Lauren Natalie Lee (“Petitioner”) petitioned for compensation under
the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012).
Petitioner alleged that the administration of human papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccines on
November 3, 2006, December 28, 2006, and April 13, 2007 caused her to develop premature
ovarian failure. Petition at Preamble, filed Apr. 2, 2014. On May 9, 2016, a decision dismissing
this case was issued, as the claim was time-barred by the Act’s statute of limitations.

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 purposes espoused in the E-Government Act of 2002. See 44
U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). 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).
         On October 13, 2016, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Petitioner requested compensation in the amount of $15,048.69 for attorneys’ fees and costs, of
which Petitioner personally incurred costs in the amount of $400.00. Petitioner’s Application at
4, filed Oct. 13, 2016. “Respondent does not object to the overall amount sought, as it is not an
unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings in this case to date.” Response at 1,
filed Oct. 25, 2016. Respondent noted that her lack of objection should not be construed as an
admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or
the other litigation related costs. Id.

        In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned
finds that Petitioner’s request for fees and costs is reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned
hereby awards the amount of $14,648.69, in the form of a check made payable jointly to
Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Mark L. Krueger, of Krueger & Hernandez, S.C; and
awards the amount of $400.00, in the form of a check made payable to Petitioner only. 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.2

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             /s/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                             Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                             Special Master

2
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to
seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).