Court Opinion

ID: 4576809
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-10-14 21:01:21.822286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:35.155163
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                      Filed: September 14, 2020

* * * * * * * * * * * * *  *
MARY TENNESEN,             *                                     UNPUBLISHED
                           *
         Petitioner,       *                                     No. 17-1441V
                           *                                     Special Master Gowen
v.                         *
                           *                                     Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
         Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioners.
Adriana R. Teitel, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                         DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On May 11, 2020, Mary Tennesen (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Motion for Attorney Fees and Costs (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 66). For the reasons discussed
below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and award a total of $25,005.23.

    I.        Procedural History

       On October 5, 2017, Petitioner filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on
September 11, 2015, she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
(“SIRVA”). See Petition (ECF No. 1). On February 19, 2020, the parties filed a stipulation, which
I adopted as my Decision awarding compensation on the same day. (ECF No. 61).

1
  I intend to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the Ruling will be
available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, I am required 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).
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 (2012) (“Vaccine
Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
        On May 11, 2020, Petitioner filed a motion for final attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner
requests compensation for her attorneys at Conway, Homer, P.C. in the total amount of $24,342.95,
representing $23,181.20 in attorneys’ fees and $1,161.75 in costs. Fees App. at 1-2. Pursuant to
General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants she has personally incurred costs of $662.28 in pursuit
of her claim. Id. at 2. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on May 26, 2020, stating that
“Respondent is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are
met in this case.” Response at 2 (ECF No. 68). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.

         The matter is now ripe for adjudication.

   II.      Analysis

         Section 15(e) (1) of the Vaccine Act allows for the Special Master to award “reasonable
attorneys' fees, and other costs.” § 300aa–15(e)(1)(A)–(B). Petitioners are entitled to an award of
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if they are entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act, or,
even if they are unsuccessful, they are eligible so long as the Special Master finds that the petition
was filed in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515
F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Here, because Petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant
to a stipulation, she is entitled to a final award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

         Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and
the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482,
484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is
filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent
of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed.
Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed.
Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).

                a. Attorneys’ Fees

        I have reviewed the rates requested by Petitioner for the work of her counsel at Conway,
Homer, P.C. (the billing records reflect that the majority of attorney work was performed by Ms.
Meredith Daniels with supporting work done by Mr. Ronald Homer, Ms. Christina Ciampolillo,
Mr. Joseph Pepper, Ms. Lauren Faga, Mr. Patrick Kelly, and Mr. Nathaniel Enos) and I find the
rates requested herein to be consistent with what these attorneys have previously been awarded for
their Vaccine Program work and reasonable in light for the work performed in this case.

        Turning next to review of the submitted billing statement, I find that the overall hours spent
on this matter appear to be reasonable. The entries are reasonable and accurately describe the work
being performed and the length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not
identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final
attorneys’ fees of $23,181.20.

                b. Attorneys’ Costs

                                                    2
        Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,161.75. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical
records, postage, and photocopies. Petitioner has provided adequate documentation supporting all
of the requested costs, and all appear reasonable in my experience. Petitioner is therefore entitled
to the full amount of costs sought.

                   c. Petitioner’s Costs

       Pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioner states that she has personally incurred costs of
$662.28 related to her case. ECF No. 67. This amount is comprised of postage and acquisition of
medical records. Petitioner has provided adequate documentation to support the costs and all
appear to be reasonable. Therefore, Petitioner shall be fully reimbursed.

      III.      Conclusion

       In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is
GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as
follows:

    Attorneys’ Fees Requested                                                     $23,181.20
    (Reduction of Fees)                                                                -
    Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded                                                 $23,181.20

    Attorneys’ Costs Requested                                                     $1,161.75
    (Reduction of Costs)                                                               -
    Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded                                                 $1,161.75

    Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs                                               $24,342.95

    Petitioner’s Costs                                                              $662.28

    Total Amount Awarded                                                          $25,005.23

             Accordingly, I award the following:

      1) a lump sum in the amount of $24,342.95, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
         attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and her
         attorney, Mr. Ronald Homer;3 and

3
  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,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 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).

                                                          3
    2) a lump sum in the amount of $662.28, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
       costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                     /s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                     Thomas L. Gowen
                                                     Special Master

4
 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine
Rule 11(a).

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