Court Opinion

ID: 4167118
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-09 16:06:58.109359+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:12.221241
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

*********************
YOLANDA VALDEZ,                         *
                                        *    No. 16-890V
                   Petitioner,          *    Special Master Christian J. Moran
                                        *
v.                                      *
                                        *    Filed: April 13, 2017
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *    Attorneys’ fees and costs.
                                        *
                   Respondent.          *
*********************
Clifford J. Shoemaker, Shoemaker, Gentry & Knickelbein, for Petitioner;
Ilene C. Albala, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

              UNPUBLISHED DECISION ON FEES AND COSTS 1

      On March 6, 2017, petitioner moved for final attorneys’ fees and costs in the
above-captioned matter. Petitioner is awarded $21,036.53.

       On July 26, 2016, Yolanda Valdez, filed a petition under the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10 through 34, alleging that the
influenza vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42
C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which she received on September 25, 2013, caused her to
suffer a shoulder injury. The undersigned issued a decision awarding
compensation to Ms. Valdez based on the parties’ stipulation. Decision, 2017 WL
1175666 (March 1, 2017).

       1
         The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
       Because Ms. Valdez received compensation, she is entitled to an award of
attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e). Petitioner seeks a total of
$16,458.77 ($16,835.70 in attorneys’ fees and $4,327.32 in costs) for her counsel.
In compliance with General Order No. 9, petitioner states that she advanced
$402.51 for reimbursable costs in pursuit of her claim.

       The Federal Circuit has approved the lodestar approach to determine
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs under the Vaccine Act. This is a two-step
process. Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d 1343, 1348 (Fed.
Cir. 2008). First, a court determines an “initial estimate . . . by ‘multiplying the
number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly
rate.’” Id. at 1347-48 (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)).
Second, the court may make an upward or downward departure from the initial
calculation of the fee award based on specific findings. Id. at 1348.

                                         *      *       *

       The first factor in the lodestar formula is a reasonable hourly rate. For
hourly rates, petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Shoemaker proposed $430 per hour for 2016
and $446 per hour for 2017. The Secretary did not directly challenge any of the
proposed hourly rates. The 2016 rate is reasonable, has been previously awarded,
and is consistent with McCulloch. See McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 09–293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19; Mikkelson v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 15–867V, 2016 WL 6803786 at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct.
3, 2016). The 2017 rate of $446, which is a 3.59% increase in hourly rate, is being
awarded at this time. 2

        Mr. Shoemaker received assistance from another attorney, Renee Gentry.
Ms. Gentry charged $415 per hour in 2016 and $430 per hour in 2017. The 2016
rate is reasonable and has been previously been awarded. Mikkelson, 2016 WL
6803786, at *3. Like Mr. Shoemaker, Ms. Gentry has requested a higher rate for
2017. Again, the undersigned awards the 2017 rate at this time. 3

       2
          The number of hours Mr. Shoemaker billed for work done in 2017 is small. The
decision in this case to award attorneys’ fees at the requested 2017 rate should not be construed
as a finding that Mr. Shoemaker’s requested 2017 hourly rate is reasonable.
       3
        Like Mr. Shoemaker, Ms. Gentry billed a modest amount of hours for work done in
2017. The decision in this case to award attorneys’ fees at the requested 2017 rate should not be
construed as a finding that Ms. Gentry’s requested 2017 hourly rate is reasonable.

                                                2
       Lastly, Mr. Shoemaker received services from an attorney, Sabrina
Knickelbein, who performed tasks that are best characterized as administrative and
paralegal in nature. See Timesheets 4 (“E-mails to and from Gretchen regarding e-
mail regarding Kaiser records,” “Telephone call with Eastern Medical regarding
request”). Ms. Knickelbein charged $365 per hour for work she performed. An
attorney’s high hourly rate reflects, in part, the attorney’s education and training.
Tasks that do not require this background, such as collecting medical records,
should be charged at a lower rate. In submitting an application based on the
timesheets, the petitioner’s attorney is expected to exercise “billing judgment.”
Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Consequently, the undersigned awards a paralegal rate of $135 per hour. See
Valdes v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 89 Fed. Cl. 415, 425 (2009);
McCulloch, 2015 WL 5634323, at *21. This results in a deduction of $529.00.

        Further review of the fee application revealed that prior to Mr. Shoemaker
representing Ms. Valdez, another law firm, Law Office of Lisa A. Roquemore,
represented her. The invoice related to this representation was included with the
application for attorneys’ fees and listed as a cost. The undersigned issued an
order requesting clarification regarding the invoice. Ms. Valdez requested that Ms.
Roquemore be reimbursed directly for attorneys’ fees and costs incurred during her
initial representation. Pet’r’s Status Rep., filed Apr. 4, 2017. Ms. Roquemore
charged $365 per hour in 2014 for work done on Ms. Valdez’s case. This rate is
reasonable and has been previously been awarded. Davis v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 14-978V, 2017 WL 656304, at *2 (Fed. Cl. Jan. 23, 2017)

       The second factor in the lodestar formula is a reasonable number of hours.
The Secretary also did not directly challenge any of the requested hours as
unreasonable. In light of the Secretary’s lack of objection, the undersigned has
reviewed the fee application for its reasonableness. See Shea v. Secʼy of Health &
Human Servs., No. 13-737V, 2015 WL 9594109, at *2 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec.
10, 2015) (“special masters are not obligated to evaluate an attorney’s billing
records on a line-by-line basis in making the reasonableness determination . . . and
certainly need not do so when Respondent has not attempted to highlight any
specific alleged inefficiencies”). The hours that Ms. Valdez’s counsel, former and

       4
           The timesheets are found within the motion for attorneys’ fees and costs filed on March
6, 2017.

                                                 3
current, worked are reasonable.5 See also Anderson v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 14-879V, 2016 WL 4169107 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jun. 28, 2016).

        In addition to seeking attorneys’ fees, Ms. Valdez seeks an award of costs
for her counsel. The costs are relatively routine, such as medical record retrieval,
mailings, and photocopies. All costs are reasonable, documented, and are awarded
in full.

                                        *       *      *

     The undersigned finds an award of attorneys’ fees and costs appropriate.
The Court awards $21,036.53 6 to be paid as follows:

       a. A lump sum of $16,431.22 in the form of a check made payable
          to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Clifford J. Shoemaker,
          of Shoemaker, Gentry & Knickelbein, for attorneys’ fees and
          other litigation costs;

       b. A lump sum of $4,202.80 in the form of a check made payable
          to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Lisa Roquemore, of
          Law Office of Lisa A. Roquemore, for attorneys’ fees and other
          litigation costs; and

       c. A lump sum of $402.51 in the form of a check made payable to
          Yolanda Valdez.

This represents reimbursement for all attorneys’ fees and costs available
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e). In the absence of a motion for review filed

       5
           In reviewing Mr. Shoemaker’s timesheets, some billing entries are vague containing as
little as three words which does not provide enough detail so that the reasonableness of the
activity can be assessed. See Timesheets (“email to Gretchen,” “Email to and from client,”
“Email from Sabrina”). Attorneys should take care that billing entries are reasonably detailed.
See Avgoustis v. Shinseki, 639 F.3d 1340, 1344-45 (Fed. Cir. 2011).
       6
         $21,036.53 (attorneys’ fees and costs requested) - $529.00 (deductions) + $402.51
(petitioner’s personally incurred costs).

                                                4
pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in
accordance herewith.7

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                    S/Christian J. Moran
                                                    Christian J. Moran
                                                    Special Master

       7
          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.

                                                5