Court Opinion

ID: 4467173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-23 21:01:53.242772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:21.179637
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-0932V
                                       (not to be published)

    VANESSA NELSON,
                                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran
                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Filed: October 25,2019

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

                         Respondent.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

       On June 28, 2018, Vanessa Nelson, (“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 alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”)
as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 14, 2016. (Petition
at 1-2). On September 30, 2019, a decision was issued by then Chief Special Master
Nora Beth Dorsey awarding compensation to petitioner bases on the respondent’s proffer.
(ECF No. 30).

         Petitioner has now filed a motion requesting attorney’s fees and costs, dated
October 18, 2019 (ECF No. 34.), requesting a total award of $19,070.37 (representing
$17,286.50 in fees plus $1,784.23 in costs). Pursuant to General Order #9, counsel for
Petitioner represents that Petitioner has not incurred out-of-pocket costs in pursuit of this
litigation. Id. Respondent reacted to the motion on October 21, 2019, indicating that he

1 Although I have not designated this Decision for publication, it will be made available 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, I agree that the
identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.

2
    National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are
met in this case, and deferring to the courts discretion to determine the amount to be
awarded. (ECF No. 35). Petitioner notified the staff attorney’s office on September 22,
2019, notifying that petitioner would not file a reply.

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. §
15(e). I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s initial request, and
based on my discretion and Vaccine Program experience, I find the requested hourly
rates and work performed to be reasonable. I therefore approve the requested amount
for attorney’s fees and costs.

       Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. I
award a total of $19,070.37 (representing $17,286.50 in attorney’s fees and $1,784.23 in
costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and her counsel,
Maximillian J. Muller, Esq. In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see
Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with
this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                      s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                                      Brian H. Corcoran
                                                      Chief Special Master

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