Court Opinion

ID: 4238352
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-23 13:04:05.90054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:36.637630
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-0902V
                                      Filed: July 14, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    JERRY BANKS,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On July 29, 2016, 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 he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) after receiving
a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination and an influenza
vaccination on October 14, 2015. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 12. On June 16, 2017, the
undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the
parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 31.)

      On June 26, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 35.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $35,301.80 and attorneys’

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
costs in the amount of $1,352.76, totaling $36,654.56. (Id. at ¶¶ 3-4.) In compliance
with General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner
incurred $50.36 in out-of-pocket expenses. See Exhibit 25 (ECF No. 35-3). Thus, the
total amount requested is $36,704.92.

        On July 13, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No.
36.) 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 he “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully recommends that the Chief Special
Master exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees
and costs.” Id. at 3.

        That same day, the OSM staff attorney managing this SPU case emailed
petitioner's counsel (copying respondent's counsel on the correspondence) to ask if
petitioner intended to file a reply to respondent's response. See Informal Remark, dated
July 14, 2017. Petitioner's counsel indicated petitioner would not be filing a reply. Id.

      The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, and the
undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request, the undersigned
GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.

        Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $36,704.923 as follows:

                A lump sum of $36,654.56, representing reimbursement for
                 attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to
                 petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Alison Haskins; and

                A lump sum of $50.36, representing reimbursement for petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Per petitioner’s request, the check shall be forwarded to Maglio, Christopher &
Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota, FL 34236.

3This 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).

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        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

4 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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