Court Opinion

ID: 866168
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-30 15:15:12.864443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:40:56.610518
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                       Filed: April 8, 2013

* * * * * * * *               *   *   *   *   *   *       UNPUBLISHED
SHANNON TATUM,                                    *
                                                  *       No. 12-483V
                Petitioner,                       *
                                                  *
                                                  *       Special Master Dorsey
v.                                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Reasonable Amount Requested to which
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *       Respondent Does not Object.
                                                  *
                Respondent.                       *
                                                  *
*    * *   *    *   *   *     *   *   *   *   *   *

Donald P. Edwards, Law Office of Donald P. Edwards, Atlanta, GA, for petitioner.
Tara J. Kilfoyle, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                        ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1

       On August 1, 2012, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”)2, alleging that he suffered from
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on
September 11, 2009. Petitioner stated that he experienced the residual effects of his injuries for
more than six months. Petition at ¶ 4. On March 18, 2013, the undersigned issued a decision,
based on the parties’ stipulation, awarding compensation to petitioner.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this 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). 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 a trade secret
or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or 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 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.

                                                      1
       On April 5, 2013, the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact Concerning Attorneys’ Fees and
Costs. According to the stipulation, respondent does not object to a total award of attorneys’ fees
and costs in the amount of $17,512.15. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a
statement stating that he incurred no out-of-pocket expenses in pursuing his petition.

        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 respondent’s counsel’s
lack of objection to petitioner’s counsel’s fee request, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s
motion for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

        Accordingly, an award should be made in the form of a check jointly payable to
petitioner and the law firm of Law Offices of Donald P. Edwards in the amount of $17,512.15.

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Special Master

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                2