Court Opinion

ID: 4148877
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-28 17:03:05.023689+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:19:19.039519
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-468V
                                    Filed: February 3, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
ELIZABETH ZDROIK,                                 *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Ramon Rodriguez, III, Rawls, McNelis and Mitchell, PC, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 8, 2015, 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 left shoulder injury as a result of her
October 16, 2012 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. On January 15, 2016, the undersigned
issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ Stipulation.
(ECF No. 30).

      On September 19, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 37). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $25,526.90,

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $917.95, and petitioner’s out-of-pocket costs in the
amount of $4.48 for a total amount of $26,449.33. Id. at ¶¶ 3, 8. In compliance with
General Order #9, petitioner has filed a signed statement indicating petitioner incurred
$4.48 in out-of-pocket expenses.

       Petitioner’s request for her attorney’s fees and costs award is based upon the
following hourly rates and hours of work performed by petitioner’s attorney, Ramon
Rodriguez, MD, and paralegal, Lisa Robertson, between 2014 and 2016.

                                                                 Number
                  Name                     Work      Hourly         of        Subtotal
                                           Year       Rate        Hours
 Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD               2014     $361.00        0.9           $324.90
 Lisa Robertson                            2014     $131.00        12.4       $1,624.40
 Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD               2015     $375.00        35.1      $13,162.50
 Lisa Robertson                            2015     $135.00        35.6       $4,806.00
 Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD               2016     $389.00        11.9       $4,629.10
 Lisa Robertson                            2016     $140.00        7.0           $980.00
 TOTAL                                                                       $25,526.90

Id. at ¶ 3.

        On September 22, 2016, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion.
(ECF No. 38). Respondent argues that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13
contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 1. Respondent adds, however, that she “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” (Id. at 2). Additionally, she “asserts that a reasonable amount for fees and
costs in the present case would fall between $15,500.00 to $18,500.00” citing two
SIRVA cases where the stipulated award of attorneys’ fees and costs fell within the
given range. (Id. at 3).

        On September 30, 2016, petitioner filed a reply. (ECF No. 39). Petitioner argues
that “the recommended range suggested by respondent bears no relationship to the
specific details involved, nor the total amount of time required in the instant matter and
therefore should not be considered.” (Id. at ¶4).

      The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the time billed by petitioner’s counsel
appears reasonable, and the undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested
hours. However, the undersigned finds that a reduction in the rates billed by petitioner’s
                                            2
counsel, Dr. Rodriguez, is necessary. The undersigned finds that Dr. Rodriguez’s
requested rates, in particular his request of $381 an hour for work performed in 2016,
exceeds the hourly rate of an attorney with his experience and qualifications.

       Petitioner has requested Dr. Rodriguez be awarded forum rates consistent with
the analysis and findings in McCulloch.3 Respondent does not dispute petitioner’s
counsel’s entitlement to forum rates. McCulloch sets ranges of forum hourly rates for
attorneys of varying experience in the Vaccine Program. Based upon McCulloch the
Office of Special Masters has published on its website an “Office of Special Masters
Attorneys Forum Hourly Rate Schedule: 2015 – 2016” (“OSM Forum Fee Schedule”).4
Under the OSM Forum Fee Schedule a Vaccine Program attorney entitled to forum
rates with between 11-18 years of experience may reasonably request between $300-
$375 an hour for work performed in the calendar years of 2015 and 2016.

       In 2016, Dr. Rodriguez had 14 years of legal experience, having practiced law
since 2002. (ECF No. 37 at ¶ 6). Additionally, he is a board certified primary care
physician, serves as lead counsel for his firm’s Vaccine Injury Practice, and is a guest
lecturer on vaccine injuries. (Id.) Based upon his experience and other credentials the
undersigned finds that for 2016 Dr. Rodriguez is reasonably entitled to $375 an hour
representing the upper end of the OSM Forum Fee Schedule for an attorney with
between 11-18 years of experience. The undersigned finds that $361 an hour is a
reasonable award for Dr. Rodriguez in 2015, and $348 a reasonable rate for Dr.
Rodriguez in 2014.5 Accordingly, the undersigned awards petitioner’s counsel fees as
follows:
                                                                  Number
                  Name                      Work     Hourly          of        Subtotal
                                            Year      Rate         Hours
  Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD               2014    $348.00         0.9           $313.20
    Lisa Robertson                                 2014      $131.00          12.4         $1,624.40
    Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD                    2015      $361.00          35.1        $12,671.10
    Lisa Robertson                                 2015      $135.00          35.6         $4,806.00

3
 McCulloch v. HHS, No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015). The
undersigned notes that Dr. Rodriguez previously charged significantly lower rates which had been
negotiated with respondent’s counsel in 2011. See Webb v. HHS, No. 14-893V, Unopposed Petition for
Reimbursement of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs filed February 26, 2016 (ECF No. 37) (requesting rates of
$284 for 2016, $282 for 2015, and $277 for 2014).
4
    http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2015-2016.pdf
5
  The undersigned notes Dr. Rodriguez utilized the average inflation rate of 3.7% used in McCulloch to
calculate his 2014 and 2016 rates in the instant application after requesting a rate of $375 for 2015.
Accordingly, the undersigned has calculated Dr. Rodriguez’s 2015 and 2014 rates by subtracting 3.7%
from his 2016 rate and 2015 rate respectively and then rounding to the nearest dollar.
                                                     3
    Ramon Rodriguez III, MD, JD                     2016       $375.00           11.9          $4,462.50
    Lisa Robertson                                  2016       $140.00            7.0             $980.00
    TOTAL                                                                                    $24,857.20

     The undersigned reduces petitioner’s counsel’s fees by $669.70. Thus, the total
amount awarded for attorneys’ fees is $24,857.20.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e).

        Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $25,779.636 as follows:

                A lump sum of $25,775.15, representing reimbursement for
                 attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Raymond Rodriguez; and

                A lump sum of $4.48, representing reimbursement for petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.7

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

6
 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).
7
  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.
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