Court Opinion

ID: 2745421
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-24 16:01:28.084456+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:13.188120
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-215V
                                      Filed: October 3, 2014
                                       Not for Publication

*************************************
MELODIE ROSE, on Behalf of Her Minor *
Child, A.R.,                               *
                                           *
              Petitioner,                  *     Interim attorneys’ fees and costs decision
                                           *     based on stipulation of fact
 v.                                        *
                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
              Respondent.                  *
                                           *
*************************************
Andrew D. Downing, Phoenix, AZ, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

          DECISION AWARDING INTERIM ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On October 3, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation of fact in which they agreed on an
appropriate amount for interim attorneys’ fees and costs in this case.

       On October 2, 2014, petitioner filed an Interim Application for Fees and Costs, requesting
$12,714.72 in interim attorneys’ fees and costs. In accordance with the General Order #9
requirement, petitioner’s counsel asserts that petitioner has not incurred any costs to this point.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made
available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to redact such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review,
agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall
redact such material from public access.
       During informal discussions, respondent raised objections to certain items in petitioner’s
application, including the interim fees motion based on Avera v. Sec’y of HHS, 515 F.3d 1343
(Fed. Cir. 2008), the reasonable basis for continuing the petition, and the attorney hourly rates
sought. Based on these objections, petitioner amends her application for interim attorneys’ fees
and costs to $12,000.00. Respondent does not object to this amount. The undersigned finds this
amount to be reasonable. The undersigned’s law clerk contacted respondent’s counsel, who
confirmed that respondent does not object to an interim award of fees and costs.

        Accordingly, the court awards:

        a. $4,970.70, representing reimbursement for interim attorneys’ fees and costs. The
           award shall be in the form of a check payable jointly to Melodie Rose, Andrew
           Downing, and Rhodes Hieronymus, Jones, Tucker & Gable in the amount of
           $4,970.70;

        b. $4,443.24, representing reimbursement for interim attorneys’ fees and costs. The
           award shall be in the form of a check payable jointly to Melodie Rose, Andrew
           Downing, and Hennelly & Steadman in the amount of $4,443.24; and

        c. $2,586.06, representing reimbursement for interim attorneys’ fees and costs. The
           award shall be in the form of a check payable jointly to Melodie Rose, Andrew
           Downing, and Van Cott & Talamante in the amount of $2,586.06.

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 3, 2014                                                             s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                                    Laura D. Millman
                                                                                      Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                    2