Court Opinion

ID: 4570210
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-28 13:01:33.083708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:56.054018
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-0291V
                                        (not to be published)

    GARY SMALLWOOD,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: August 26, 2020

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

                         Respondent.

Amber Diane Wilson, Wilson Science Law, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

        On February 26, 2018, Gary Smallwood 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 he suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration attributable to the influenza vaccine he received on November 6, 2016.
(Petition at ¶¶ 1,12-13). On October 2, 2019, a decision was issued awarding
compensation to Petitioner in the amount of $72,500.00. (ECF No. 49).

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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). This means the Decision 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.

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).
       Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated July 16, 2020,
(ECF No. 55) requesting a total award of $53,357.12, representing $2,319.25 in fees and
costs incurred by Wilson Science Law and $51,037.87 in fees and costs incurred by
Petitioner’s former counsel, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA. In accordance with General
Order #9, Petitioner filed a signed statement indicating she incurred out-of-pocket
expenses in the amount of $284.24. (ECF No. 55-5.) Respondent reacted to the motion
on July 27, 2020 indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award
of attorney’s fees and costs are met in this case and defers to the Court’s discretion to
determine the amount to be awarded. (ECF No. 56). Petitioner did not file a reply
thereafter

      I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my
experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested
hours or rates.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. §
15(e). Accordingly, petitioner is awarded the total amount of $53,641.36 3 as
follows:

            •    A lump sum of $2,319.25, representing reimbursement for attorney’s
                 fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner
                 and Wilson Science Law;

            •    A lump sum of $51,037.87, representing reimbursement for
                 attorney’s fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 Petitioner and Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA and;

            •    A lump sum of $284.24, representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

            •    Petitioner requests all checks be forwarded to Wilson Science Law,
                 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20006.

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” 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).

                                                    2
      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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

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