Court Opinion

ID: 3210158
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-07 20:02:06.453708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:22.896764
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-1449V
                                      Filed: May 10, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
RUTH MAJOR,                                       *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
                v.                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Carol L. Gallagher, Carol L. Gallagher, Esquire, LLC, Linwood, NJ, for petitioner.
Ann Donohue Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On December 1, 2015, Ruth Major (“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 a shoulder injury related
to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she
received on January 4, 2015. On April 12, 2016, the undersigned issued a decision
awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 13).

       On May 6, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF No.
18). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,957.50, and attorneys’ costs

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.
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).
in the amount of $176.69,3 for a total amount of $10,134.19. Id. In accordance with
General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel states that petitioner incurred $400.00, in out-of-
pocket expenses, and provided documentation of the expense. On May 10, 2016,
respondent filed a response stating that she has no objection “to the overall amount
sough, as it is not an unreasonable amount to have been incurred for proceedings in
this case to date.”4 (ECF No. 19).

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

        Accordingly, the undersigned awards the following”

        (a) $10,134.19,5 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to
            petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Carol L. Gallagher, and

        (b) $400.00, as a lump sum in the form of a check payable to petitioner only.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.6

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

3
 In the motion for attorneys’ fees and costs, petitioner’s counsel includes as a separate line item, “unpaid
costs” which includes two bills for medical records retrieval. These costs were incurred by petitioner’s
counsel and will be included in the costs borne by petitioner’s counsel.
4
  Respondent notes that her lack of objection to the amount sought should not be construed as an
admission, concession, or waiver as to the hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the
other litigation related costs.
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).
6
  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.

                                                      2