Court Opinion

ID: 3155296
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-17 17:02:19.371173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:52:41.772231
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 14-1147V
                                       Filed: October 27, 2015
                                             Unpublished

****************************
THALIA MONSHA STALLWORTH                *
LEWIS, as personal administrator of the *
Estate of ALTON JEROME LEWIS,           *
deceased,                               *
                   Petitioner,          *
       v.                               *                  Attorney Fees and Costs; Stipulation
                                        *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                 *
HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                        *
                   Respondent.          *
                                 *
*********************************
Milton Clay Ragsdale, IV, Ragsdale LLC, Birmingham, AL, for petitioner.
Gordon Shemin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On November 25, 2014, Thalia Monsha Stallworth Lewis, as the personal
administrator of the Estate of Alton Jerome Lewis [“Mr. Lewis”], deceased, filed a
petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42
U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 [the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleged that as
the result of an influenza [“flu”] vaccination on September 4, 2013, Mr. Lewis suffered
Guillain-Barre Syndrome [“GBS”] and death. Petition at 1. On August 6, 2015, a

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision 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 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioners have 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.

2
 National 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).
decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation was
issued.

       On October 27, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Regarding Final
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties agree upon an
award of $23,500.00 for attorney’s fees and costs and $58.60 for petitioner’s out-of-
pocket litigation expenses. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel
represents that petitioner incurred $58.60 in out-of-pocket expenses in this case.
Stipulation, ¶ 4.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42
U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). The proposed amount is reasonable.

        Accordingly, I award the total of $23,558.603 as follows:

       1. a check in the amount of $23,500.00 jointly payable to petitioner and
petitioner’s counsel M. Clay Ragsdale and

        2. A check in the amount of $58.60 solely payable to petitioner.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Chief Special Master

3
 This 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, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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, HHS, 924
F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).

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