Court Opinion

ID: 3198534
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-27 20:01:56.496888+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:20.685558
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                             No. 14-0694V
                                       Filed: December 7, 2015
                                            UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
MICHAEL PHILLIPS,                                  *
                                                   *
                         Petitioner,               *
                 v.                                *
                                                   *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Stipulation
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                            *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
HUMAN SERVICES,                                    *
                                                   *
                         Respondent.               *
                                 *
*********************************
Isaiah Kalinowski, Esq., Maglio, Christopher and Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
       petitioner.
Claudia Gangi, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On August 1, 2014, Michael Phillips (“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” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleged that he suffered Guillain-
Barré syndrome (GBS) resulting from the influenza vaccine he received on December
21, 2012. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 16. On May 21, 2015, a decision was issued awarding
compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation.

       On November 19, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact Concerning
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties stipulate to an
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend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 (2006).
award to petitioner of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $15,374.76. In
compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has filed a statement indicating he
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.3

       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 and the
lack of any objection by respondent, the undersigned grants the request for approval
and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $15,374.76,4 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel,
Isaiah Kalinowski, Esq.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

3  Petitioner’s counsel also represented that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Stipulation,
filed Nov. 19, 2015, at ¶ 3.

4This 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).

5Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
See Vaccine Rule 11(a).

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