Court Opinion

ID: 4194244
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-08 20:04:15.654479+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:58.740337
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1150V
                                       Filed: July 13, 2017
                                     NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
*********************************
SUSAN ITSELL,                                      *
                                                   *
                         Petitioner,               *
v.                                                 *        Decision on Attorneys’
                                                   *        Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                *
                                                   *
                         Respondent.               *
                                                   *
****************************
Andrew Donald Downing, Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ, for Petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Hastings, Special Master:

       On September 15, 2016, Petitioner filed a Petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered an adverse reaction to her Prevnar
13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate) vaccination administered on November 3,
2015. On June 1, 2017, I issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner based
on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 25.)

      On June 14, 2017, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 29.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $13,191.50 and

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
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). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will
redact such material from public access.

2National 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).
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,663.06, for a total amount of $14,854.56. (Id. at 1.)
In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner’s counsel represents that Petitioner
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses in pursuit of the claim.

        On June 19, 2017, Respondent filed a response to Petitioner’s application. (ECF
No. 30.) In his response, Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine
Rule 13 contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a
petitioner for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” (Id. at 1.) Respondent adds,
however, that she “is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees
and costs are met in this case.” (Id. at 2.) Respondent “respectfully recommends that
the Special Master exercise his discretion and determine a reasonable award for
attorneys’ fees and costs.” (Id. at 3.)

       I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. See
Exhibit Ex. A. In light of my experience the request appears reasonable, and I find no
cause to reduce the requested hours or rates in this case.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of Petitioner’s request, I GRANT Petitioner’s
application for attorneys’ fees and costs in the reduced amount of $14,854.56.

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $14,854.563 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel
Andrew Donald Downing, Esq.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           /s/ George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                             George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                             Special Master

3This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award encompasses all
charges by the attorney against a client, “advanced costs” as well as fees for legal services rendered.
Furthermore, § 15(e)(3) prevents an attorney from charging or collecting fees (including costs) that would
be in addition to the amount awarded herein. See generally Beck v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).

4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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