Court Opinion

ID: 2832309
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-31 20:03:04.03709+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:29.594595
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 13-274V
                                          (Not to be published)

*****************************
                            *
WILLIE ANDRE SIMMONS,       *
                            *                                             Filed: August 7, 2015
                Petitioner, *
                            *                                             Decision by Stipulation; Attorney’s
          v.                *                                             Fees & Costs
                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND     *
HUMAN SERVICES,             *
                            *
                Respondent. *
                            *
*****************************

Danielle A. Strait, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

                            ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

        On April 18, 2013, Willie Andre Simmons filed a petition seeking compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. On February 4, 2015, the parties filed a
stipulation detailing an amount to be awarded to Petitioner. I subsequently issued a decision
finding the parties’ stipulation to be reasonable and granting Petitioner the award outlined by the
stipulation.

       On August 7, 2015, counsel for both parties filed another joint stipulation, this time in
regards to attorney’s fees and costs. The parties have stipulated that Petitioner’s counsel should
receive a lump sum of $35,867.91, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my actions in this case, I will post it 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 (Dec. 17, 2002) (current version at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2014)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the published decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential
information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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 whole decision will be available to
the public. Id.
counsel. This amount represents a sum to which Respondent does not object. In addition, and in
compliance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner has represented that he did incur any reimbursable
costs in proceeding on this petition.

        I approve the requested amount for attorney’s fees and costs as reasonable. Accordingly,
an award should be made in the form of a check in the amount of $35,867.91 payable jointly to
Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Danielle A. Strait, Esq. 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.2

         IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                                     /s/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                        Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                        Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their
right to seek review.