Court Opinion

ID: 4240049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-29 21:06:12.806164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:32.779014
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-0652V
                                     Filed: August 31, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    SARAH ETHERIDGE-CRISWELL,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Danielle A. Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Ilene C. Albala, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 2, 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 injury to her left shoulder as a result of an
influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on December 14, 2014. On March 14, 2017, the
undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the
respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 30.) Petitioner was awarded $120,000.00.

       On August 11, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 35.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $13,482.50 and attorneys’
costs in the amount of $740.41. Id. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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).
filed a signed statement indicating that she incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF
No. 35-3.) Thus, the total amount requested is $14,222.91.

        On August 21, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF
No. 36.) 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 he “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 Chief Special
Master exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees
and costs.” Id. at 3. On August 24, 2017, petitioner filed a reply. (ECF No. 37.)

       The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the requested hours appear reasonable, and
the undersigned will not reduce them; however, she does reduce certain requested
hourly rates.

        Ms. Strait requests $295.00 per hour for work performed in 2015, $306.00 per
hour for work performed in 2016, and $320.00 per hour for work performed in 2017.
(ECF 35-1.) In 2017, Ms. Strait is in her seventh year of practice, placing her within the
4-7 year practice range set forth in the 2015-2016 and 2017 Fee Schedules. 3 However,
Ms. Strait’s requested rates for 2016 and 2017 are outside of the range set forth in the
fee schedules for an attorney with her years of experience. The maximum amount to be
awarded for an attorney in the 4-7 year range is $300.00 per hour in 2016 and $307.00
per hour in 2017. Thus, the undersigned awards Ms. Strait $300.00 per hour for work
performed in 2016 and $307.00 per hour for work performed in 2017, thereby reducing
petitioner’s application by $182.60. 4

      The remainder of the firm’s requested hourly rates fall within the 2015-2016 and
2017 Fee Schedules. The undersigned finds them reasonable and awards them in full.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request, the undersigned
GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs, minus the noted reductions.

3The 2015-2016 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule2015-2016.pdf. The
2017 Fee Schedule can be accessed at: http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-
Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf. The hourly rates contained within are from the decision McCulloch v. Sec’y
of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-093V, 2015 WL 5634323 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).

4   17.0 hours in 2016 ($102.00); 6.20 hours in 2017 ($80.60).

                                                     2
        Accordingly, the undersigned awards:

        A lump sum in the amount of $14,040.31, 5 representing reimbursement for
        all petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable
        jointly to petitioner and her attorney, Danielle A. Strait, of Maglio
        Christopher & Toale, PA. 6

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 7

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

5 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, § 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).

6Petitioner requests that the check be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street,
Suite 710, Sarasota, FL 34236.

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.

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