Court Opinion

ID: 2798190
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-05-02 05:01:52.875137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:11:58.593961
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                      OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 13-238V
                                          Filed: April 9, 2015
                                         (Not to be published)

***********************************************
JAMES COX,                                    *
                                              *
                       Petitioner,            *            Stipulation; Attorneys’ Fees & Costs
        v.                                    *
                                              *
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT *
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
                                              *
                       Respondent.            *
***********************************************

Leonard Mark, Esq., Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., Phoenix, AZ for petitioner.
Claudia Gangi, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                          DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS 1

Gowen, Special Master:

         In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 2 I issued a
Decision on September 24, 2014, adopting the parties’ stipulation for award. On April 8, 2015,
the parties filed a Stipulation of Fact concerning attorneys’ fees and costs. Pursuant to General
Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represented that petitioner has not personally incurred any
litigation costs in this matter.

      The parties’ stipulation indicates that respondent does not object to the amended
amount of $19, 234.54 that petitioner is requesting for attorneys’ fees & costs.

        I find that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed 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). Further, the proposed amount seems reasonable and
appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award:

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
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)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete 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
delete such material from public access.
2 The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq.
(2006).
            •   a lump sum of $19, 234.54 in the form of a check payable jointly to
                petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Leonard Mark, Esq., for petitioner’s
                attorneys’ fees and costs.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                  s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                  Thomas L. Gowen
                                                  Special Master

3 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.

See Vaccine Rule 11(a).

                                                     2