Court Opinion

ID: 4241121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-31 21:04:19.105917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:16:45.419269
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1522V
                                     Filed: August 17, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

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

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Shealene P. Wasserman, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Lara A. Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On November 16, 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 she suffered left shoulder injuries caused-in-fact
by the influenza vaccination she received on September 1, 2015. On June 8, 2017, the
undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the
parties’ joint stipulation. ECF No. 26.

       On August 4, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. ECF
No. 30. Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $10,652.50 and attorneys’
costs in the amount of $666.01. Id. at 2. In accordance with General Order #9,

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

2National 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's counsel represents that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.
Thus, the total amount requested is $11,318.51.

       On August 10, 2017, respondent filed a response stating respondent has no
objection to petitioner’s motion. ECF No. 31. Respondent cautions, however, that his
lack of objection “should not be construed as admission, concession, or waiver as to the
hourly rates requested, the number of hours billed, or the other litigation related costs.”
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. However, the
undersigned does reduce the claimed costs by $84.51, due to the submission of
duplicate invoices for obtaining certain medical records. See ECF No. 30 at 16-17.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition
from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs, minus the above-noted deduction.

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards $11,234.00, 3 representing
reimbursement for all attorneys' fees and costs, in the form of a check payable
jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Shealene Wasserman of Muller
Brazil, LLP.

        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

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).

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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