Court Opinion

ID: 3165798
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-28 21:02:12.495077+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:22.995695
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 05-471V
                                        Filed: December 3, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                    UNPUBLISHED
AUGUST STEFKOVICH, parent of N.S., *
a minor,                           *
                                   *                               Special Master Gowen
          Petitioner,              *
                                   *
v.                                 *                               Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
                                   *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                *
                                   *
          Respondent.              *
                                   *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Heather L. Pearlman, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On April 14, 2005, August Stefkovich (“petitioner”) filed a petition on behalf of N.S., his
minor child, pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§
300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving measles-mumps-rubella
(“MMR”) and varicella vaccinations on April 9, 2002, N.S. developed a seizure disorder that
resulted in global developmental delay. Amended Petition at Intro. The undersigned issued a
decision awarding petitioner compensation pursuant to the terms of a joint stipulation filed by the

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 (2012)). 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 (2012) (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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parties on May 11, 2015. Judgment entered on May18, 2015.

        Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs on November 10, 2015. On
November 20, 2015, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs, stating that “while [she] disagrees with the analysis and findings in [McCulloch],
respondent has determined that her resources are not wisely used by continuing to litigate the
issues addressed in that decision.” Response to Motion at 1-2. Accordingly, respondent
indicated that she “defers to the special master’s statutory discretion in determining a reasonable
fee award for this case.” Id. at 2.

        Petitioner here requests a total award of fees and costs in the amount of $61,900.03.
Motion for Attorney Fees & Costs at ¶ A. This amount includes attorneys’ fees in the amount of
$44,253.50, and attorneys’ costs in the amount of $14,500.83. Id. Additionally, in accordance
with General Order #9, petitioner represents that he incurred reimbursable costs in pursuit of this
claim in the amount of $3,145.70. Id.; Petitioner and Counsel Statement at 1.

        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 request, which is consistent with the
rates and reasoning established in McCulloch, 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 attorneys
           at Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, in the amount of $58,754.33; and

       (2) in the form of a check payable to petitioner only, August Stefkovich, pursuant to
           General Order No. 9, in the amount of $3,145.70.

       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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