Court Opinion

ID: 3200230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-04 12:06:02.440792+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:00.992261
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-732V
                                     Filed: January 6, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
FRANKLIN JENKINS,                                 *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
                v.                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Ronald Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, M.A., for petitioner.
Jennifer Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On August 13, 2014, Franklin Jenkins (“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” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleged that he
suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration [“SIRVA”] and
dermatofibroma resulting from the influenza vaccine he received on October 4, 2011.
Petition at 1. On August 4, 2015, a decision was issued awarding compensation to
petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation. (ECF No. 26).

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913
(codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b),
petitioners have 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, that material will be removed 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).
       On December 4, 2015, petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and
costs. (ECF No. 33). Petitioner applied for attorneys’ fees amounting to $14,985.30,
attorneys’ costs amounting to $127.76, and petitioner’s costs amounting to $400.00. Id.
at 1. In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a statement indicating he
incurred costs of $400.00 and petitioner’s counsel incurred costs of $127.76. (ECF No.
34). On December 28, 2015, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s application.
(ECF No. 35).

         In her response, respondent indicated that she “stands by the arguments and
evidence she put forth in McCulloch v. HHS, No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015) . . . [and] disagrees with the analysis and findings in that
decision.” Id. at 1-2. She further indicated, however, that she “has determined that her
resources are not wisely used by continuing to litigate the issues addressed in that
decision . . . [and] therefore respectfully defers to the special master’s statutory
discretion in determining a reasonable fee award for this case.” Id. at 2. Although she
did not object to the number of hours billed by petitioner’s counsel or to any of the costs
attributed to either petitioner or her counsel, respondent added that “[n]othing contained
in this response should be construed as an admission, concession, or waiver by
respondent as to any of the matters raised by the instant Fee Application, including, but
not limited to, the hourly rates requested, the number of hours requested, and other
litigation-related costs.” Id. at 2, fn. 1.

       The undersigned fully agrees with the McCulloch analysis regarding appropriate
hourly rates for the attorneys in the Conway, Homer, and Chin-Caplan law firm and
adopts the same reasoning in this case.

      The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42
U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request, the
undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s request.3

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total amount of $15,513.06 as
follows:

               A lump sum of $15,113.064, representing reimbursement for
                attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to

3 In other cases the undersigned has reduced attorneys’ fees where multiple attorneys worked on a file.
Due to the overall reasonable amount of fees sought in this particular case, the undersigned will not
reduce the fees. However, the practice of having multiple attorneys work on a file is discouraged, and
may result in a reduction in fees in other cases.
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, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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, HHS, 924
F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).
                 petitioner, Franklin Jenkins, and petitioner’s counsel, Conway,
                 Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C.; and

                A lump sum of $400.00, representing reimbursement for petitioner’s
                 costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Franklin Jenkins.

        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

5Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
See Vaccine Rule 11(a).