Court Opinion

ID: 4301273
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-06 16:01:41.605335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:27.032634
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-730V
                                       Filed: July 10, 2018

    * * * * * * * * * * * * *                  *    *
    GERARDO CABELLO,                                *       UNPUBLISHED
                                                    *
                 Petitioner,                        *
    v.                                              *       Decision on Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
                                                    *
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH                             *
    AND HUMAN SERVICES,                             *
                                                    *
             Respondent.                            *
    * * * * * * * * * * * * *                  *    *

Nancy Meyers, Esq., Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Althea Davis, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Roth, Special Master:

       On June 1, 2017, Gerardo Cabello (“Mr. Cabello,” or “petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that
he developed left sensorineural hearing loss as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on
October 3, 2016. See Petition (“Pet.”), ECF No. 1. On July 3, 2018, the undersigned issued an
Order concluding the proceedings based on the parties’ joint stipulation of dismissal. See Order,
ECF No. 20.

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-
347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the Decision’s
inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party
has fourteen days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is
a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public. Id.
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).

                                                        1
       On June 25, 2018, petitioner filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Motion for Fees,
ECF No. 18. Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,094.00 and attorneys’ costs in
the amount of $3,104.18, for a total amount of $12,198.18.3 Id. at 1. In accordance with General
Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner did not incur any out-of-pocket expenses.
ECF No. 21-1.

       On July 9, 2018 respondent filed a response to petitioners’ Motion for Fees. Response,
ECF No. 22. Respondent stated that he was “satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of
attorneys’ fees and costs” have been met, and “respectfully recommend[ed] that the Special Master
exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and costs.” Id. at 2-3.

        Petitioner filed a reply on July 9, 2018, reiterating his request for fees and costs. ECF No.
23.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of “reasonable attorneys’ fees” and “other costs.” 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 $12,198.18,4 representing
reimbursement for attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,094.00 and costs in the amount of $3,104.18,
in the form of a check made payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Nancy Meyers,
Esq. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this Decision.5

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                          Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                          Special Master

3
 I have made no determination as to appropriate hourly rates in this matter; I merely conclude that the total
sums requested seem reasonable and appropriate.
4
 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).
5
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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