Court Opinion

ID: 4026490
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-19 12:02:08.953289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:06:59.189954
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-85V
                                      Filed: July 1, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
SCOTT CURTIS,                                     *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Paul Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On January 15, 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 a right shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) caused in fact by an influenza vaccination
administered on November 5, 2014. Petition at 1. On June 3, 2016, the undersigned
issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s proffer.
(ECF No. 18).

      On June 13, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 21). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,313.50 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

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).
costs in the amount of $593.84 for a total amount of $15,907.34. Id. at 2. In
accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

        On June 24, 2016, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No.
23). 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, citing five prior cases, she “asserts that a reasonable
amount for fees and costs in the present case would fall between $12,000.00 to
$14,000.00.” Id. at 3.

       On June 30, 2016, petitioner filed a reply. (ECF No. 24). Petitioner argues that
respondent has provided “no precise objection” but only a list of five prior cases in which
fees were awarded in the claimed range. Id. at 2. Petitioner includes a list of 15 cases
in which has previously been awarded fees and contends that respondent’s fee range is
“unsubstantiated” based on his actual experience litigating Vaccine Act claims. Id. at 3.

      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.

        Petitioner requests additional attorneys’ fees in the amount of $605.00 (2.2 hours
of time) for preparing the reply. Id. at 5. He has not, however, provided specific billing
entries describing how this time was expended. The undersigned finds the request for
additional hours spent preparing the reply to be reasonable and awards the full amount
requested for preparation of the reply brief, $605.00. 3 Thus, the total amount awarded
for attorneys’ fees and costs is $16,512.34.

      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 $16,512.34 4 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Paul Brazil, Esq.

3
 The undersigned may reduce the attorneys’ fees sought for additional filings of a similar reply in other
cases.

4This 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
        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                          Chief Special Master

5 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.
                                                     3