Court Opinion

ID: 4325716
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-30 16:02:10.914901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:35.219420
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 17-527V
                                          (not to be published)

*************************
HEATHER L. FOSTER,          *                                    Special Master Corcoran
                            *
                            *
                Petitioner, *                                    Filed: September 11, 2018
                            *
           v.               *
                            *                                    Attorney’s Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH         *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,         *
                            *
                Respondent. *
                            *
*************************

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

             DECISION AWARDING FINAL ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1

        On April 14, 2017, Heather Foster filed a petition seeking compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered
from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her October 17,
2015, Tetanus diphtheria-aceullular-pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine. On February 28, 2018,
Respondent filed a Stipulation (ECF No. 22), which I adopted as my Decision awarding damages
on that same day (ECF No. 23).

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This
means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
12(d)(4)(B), 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 in its present form will be
available. Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
        Before me now is Petitioner’s application for final attorney’s fees and costs, dated August
5, 2018 (ECF No. 28) (“Fees App.”), requesting reimbursement in the total amount of $15,257.47
(representing $15,242.80 in attorney’s fees, plus $14.67 in costs). Fees App. at 1. In addition, and
pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioner certifies that she has expended $400.00 in pursuit of
her claim for compensation. Id. at 2. Respondent reacted to the motion on August 20, 2018,
indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory requirement for an award of attorney’s fees and
costs are met in this case, and deferring to my discretion to determine the amount to be awarded.
ECF No. 29 at 2-3.

       For the reasons set forth below, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s motion, awarding final
attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $15,257.47, and final Petitioner’s costs in the amount of
$400.00.

                                                    ANALYSIS

         Vaccine Program attorneys are entitled to a fees award in successful cases like this one.
Determining the appropriate amount of that award is a two-part process. The first part involves
application of the lodestar method – “multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the
litigation times a reasonable hourly rate.” Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d
1343, 1347-48 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)).3 The second
part involves adjusting the lodestar calculation up or down to take relevant factors into
consideration. Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. This standard for calculating a fee award is considered
applicable in most cases where a fee award is authorized by federal statute. Hensley v. Eckerhart,
461 U.S. 424, 429-37 (1983).

3
  An attorney's reasonable hourly rate is more precisely understood to be the “prevailing market rate” in the relevant
forum. Avera, 515 F.3d at 1349; Rodriguez v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 06-559V, 2009 WL 2568468, at
*2 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 27, 2009), mot. for rev. denied, 91 Fed. Cl. 453 (2010), aff'd, 632 F.3d 1381 (Fed. Cir.
2011). That rate is in turn determined by the “forum rule,” which bases the award rate on rates paid to similarly
qualified attorneys in the forum where the relevant court sits (Washington, D.C., for Vaccine Program cases). Avera,
515 F.3d at 1348. After the hourly rate is determined, the reasonableness of the total hours expended must be
considered. Sabella, 86 Fed. Cl. at 205-06. This reasonableness inquiry involves consideration of the work performed
on the matter, the skill and experience of the attorneys involved, and whether any waste or duplication of effort is
evident. Hensley, 461 U.S. at 434, 437.

          In some cases, determining the proper hourly rate for a particular attorney requires consideration of whether
there is a significant disparity between the forum rate applicable to the Vaccine Program generally and the geographic
forum in which the attorney practices, in order to adjust the rate used for the lodestar calculation. Avera, 515 F.3d at
1349, (citing Davis County Solid Waste Mgmt. & Energy Recovery Special Serv. Dist. v. EPA, 169 F.3d 755, 758
(D.C. Cir. 1999) ).

                                                           2
       Petitioner requests the following rates of compensation for her attorney, Ms. Leah Durant:
$365 per hour for work performed in 2017, and $377 per hour for work performed in 2018. Fees
App. Ex. 1 at 6. Petitioner also requests that Ms. Durant’s paralegal be compensated at $145 per
hour for work performed in 2017 and $150 per hour for work performed in 2018. Id.

        Ms. Durant has previously been found to be entitled to in-forum rates, and the rates sought
within have been previously found to be reasonable. See, e.g., Hanson v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 16-997V, 2018 WL 2772519, at *2 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 9, 2018); Goins v. Sec’y
of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-848V, 2018 WL 702104, at *7 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 10,
2018). Additionally, the paralegal rates sought are within the prescribed forum range, and have
also been found to be reasonable. Id. Accordingly, no adjustment to the rates requested is required.

        I also find the hours spent on this matter (42.9) to be reasonable, and Respondent has not
otherwise identified any particular entries as objectionable. Accordingly, I will not reduce the
hours requested. Therefore, because no changes shall be made to the requested rates or hours,
Petitioner is entitled to the full amount of attorney’s fees sought, $15,242.80.

        Petitioner requests litigation costs in the amount of $14.67. Fees App. at 1. The requested
cost is for mailing documents via FedEx. This cost is typical for Vaccine Program cases, and
Petitioner has provided a receipt to support the requested cost, and it shall be awarded in full.
Petitioner also asserts that she has personally incurred $400.00 in costs for paying the filing fee in
this case. Petitioner has also substantiated this cost, and it shall be awarded in full. Accordingly, I
will award Petitioner the full amount requested for costs, $14.67 in attorney’s costs and $400.00
in personally incurred costs.

                                                CONCLUSION

        The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(e). Accordingly, I award (a) a total of $15,257.47 (representing $15,242.80 in
attorney’s fees and $14.67 in costs) as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to
Petitioner and her counsel, Ms. Leah Durant, Esq., and (b) $400.00 as a lump sum in the form of
a check payable to Petitioner. 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

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
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

                    4