Court Opinion

ID: 2652960
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-12 01:02:21.299186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:12.774995
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                   No. 09-221V
                               (Not to be published)

***********************
DIKSHA BATISH,             *
                           *
               Petitioner, *
                           *                           Filed: January 20, 2014
         v.                *
                           *                           Decision on Attorneys’
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND    *                           Fees and Costs
HUMAN SERVICES             *
                           *
               Respondent. *
                           *
*************************

                   DECISION1 (ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS)
       In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 Special
Master Hamilton-Fieldman issued a Decision on January 9, 2014. On January 20, 2014,
the parties filed a stipulation concerning attorney’s fees and costs in this matter. The
parties’ stipulation requests a total payment of $35,000.00, representing attorney’s fees
and costs. In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner’s counsel noted that Petitioner
incurred $286.07 in litigation costs.

      1
         The undersigned intends 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)). 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 trade secret or
commercial or financial information and is privileged or confidential, or (2) that are
medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, “the entire” decision
will be available to the public. Id.
      2
        The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-10 et seq. (2006).

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        The undersigned finds that this petition was brought in good faith and that there
exists a reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is
appropriate, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). The undersigned finds said
stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding attorneys’
fees and costs, on the terms set forth therein.

        I hereby award a lump sum of $35,000.00, in the form of a check payable jointly
to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Thomas P. Gallagher, Esq. I additionally award
the amount of $286.07, in the form of a check made payable to Petitioner.

       In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review filed pursuant to Appendix B of
the Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment
in accordance herewith.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                       /s/ Lisa D Hamilton-Fieldman.
                                                        Lisa D Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                        Special Master

                                            2