Court Opinion

ID: 6329543
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-04 17:01:32.418389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:53.131841
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                      OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                               No. 20-789V
                                           (not to be published)

*****************************
                                      *
CHEREE ROACH and JASON ROACH,         *
on behalf of their minor child, I.R., *                                     Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                      *
                       Petitioners,   *                                     Filed: March 10, 2022
                                      *
               v.                     *
                                      *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *
                                      *
                       Respondent.    *
                                      *
*****************************

Andrew D. Downing, Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ, for Petitioners.

Matthew Murphy, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

            DECISION GRANTING IN PART ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

        On June 29, 2020, Cheree and Jason Roach, on behalf of their minor son, I.R., filed a
petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
(“Vaccine Program”), 2 alleging that the measles, mumps, and rubella (“MMR”) vaccine I.R.
received on March 5, 2019, caused him to develop Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric
Disorder (“PANS”) and/or Tourette syndrome. Pet. at 1 (ECF No. 1).

1
  Although I have not formally designated this Decision for publication, it will nevertheless be posted on the United
States Court of Federal Claims website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012).
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 will
be available to the public. Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
         The case was initially before a different special master, but reassigned to me on August 25,
2021 (a little more than one year after its initiation). Order, dated Aug. 25, 2021 (ECF No. 26). I
then ordered Petitioners to show cause by mid-January 2022 as to why their case should not be
dismissed, because the theory that PANS could be vaccine-induced had never met with success in
the Vaccine Program. Scheduling Order, dated Sept. 27, 2021 (ECF No. 29). Petitioners missed
that deadline, and upon my Order to file their overdue brief (ECF No. 31), they instead filed a
Motion for Decision to Dismiss Petition. Motion, dated Jan. 27, 2022 (ECF No. 32). I granted the
relief requested and terminated the claim. Decision, Jan. 31, 2022 (ECF No. 33).

        Petitioners have now filed a motion for a final award of attorney’s fees and costs. Motion,
dated Feb. 3, 2022 (ECF No. 35) (“Final Fees Mot.”). Petitioners requests a total of $19,823.37 in
attorney’s fees and costs ($19,305.50 in fees plus $517.87 in costs) for the work of two attorneys,
Mr. Andrew Downing and Ms. Courtney Van Cott, and two paralegals, based on work performed
on the matter from November 2019 to the date of filing. Final Fees Mot. at 4–6. Petitioners then
filed a Supplemental Motion for Attorney Fees and Costs. Motion, dated Feb. 24, 2022 (ECF No.
40) (“Supp. Fees Mot.”). This increased the attorney’s fees by $1,922.50 (to account for work
performed in defending the request for fees) with the total fees amount now requested being
$21,745.87. Supp. Fees Mot. at 1.

       Respondent opposed the fees request on February 17, 2022. See Response, Feb. 17, 2022
(ECF No. 38) (“Response”). Respondent contends that Petitioners have failed to establish a
reasonable basis for their claim, and are thus not entitled to a discretionary award of fees and costs.
Id. at 1. Petitioners reacted to Respondent’s objection on February 24, 2022, arguing that
Respondent did not properly apply the reasonable basis standard. See Reply, dated Feb. 24, 2022
(ECF No. 39) (“Reply”).

       For the reasons set forth below, I hereby GRANT Petitioners’ motion in part, awarding
fees and costs in the total amount of $15,739.98.

                                            ANALYSIS

I.     Petitioner’s Claim had Reasonable Basis

         Although the Vaccine Act only guarantees a reasonable award of attorney’s fees and costs
to successful petitioners, a special master may also award fees and costs in an unsuccessful case
if: (1) the “petition was brought in good faith”; and (2) “there was a reasonable basis for the claim
for which the petition was brought.” Section 15(e)(1). Importantly, fees are not a given for
unsuccessful petitioners. Establishing reasonable basis is merely a prerequisite to a fees award,
and hence a finding of reasonable basis does not automatically entitle a claimant whose petition

                                                  2
was dismissed to fees.

        I have in prior decisions discussed the criteria to be applied when determining if a claim
possessed “reasonable basis” sufficient for a fees award. See, e.g., Sterling v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., No. 16-551V, 2020 WL 549443, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 3, 2020). In short,
the claim’s reasonable basis must be demonstrated through some objective evidentiary showing.
Cottingham v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 971 F.3d 1337, 1344 (Fed. Cir. 2020) (citing
Simmons v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 875 F.3d 632, 635 (Fed. Cir. 2017)). This objective
inquiry is focused on the claim itself—counsel’s conduct in prosecuting the claim is irrelevant
(although it may bulwark good faith). Simmons, 875 F.3d at 635. Reasonable basis inquiries are
not static—they evaluate not only what was known at the time the petition was filed, but also take
into account what is learned about the evidentiary support for the claim as the matter progresses.
Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 33 F.3d 1375, 1377 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (upholding the
finding that a reasonable basis for petitioners’ claims ceased to exist once they had reviewed their
expert's opinion, which consisted entirely of unsupported speculation).

         The standard for reasonable basis is lesser (and thus inherently easier to satisfy) than the
preponderant standard applied when assessing entitlement, because cases that fail can still have
sufficient objective grounding for a fees award. Braun v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 144 Fed.
Cl. 72, 77 (2019). The Court of Federal Claims has affirmed that “[r]easonable basis is a standard
that petitioners, at least generally, meet by submitting evidence.” Chuisano v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., 116 Fed. Cl. 276, 287 (Fed. Cl. 2014) (internal quotations omitted) (affirming special
master). The factual basis and medical support for the claim is among the evidence that should be
considered. Carter v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 132 Fed. Cl. 372, 378 (Fed. Cl. 2017). Under
the Vaccine Act, special masters have “maximum discretion” in applying the reasonable basis
standard. See, e.g., Silva v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 108 Fed. Cl. 401, 401–02 (Fed. Cl.
2012). 3

        Petitioners in this case requested dismissal prior to filing of an expert report in favor of
their claim. As far as the litigation goes, they were on some notice of the claim’s potential
deficiencies at the time Respondent filed the Rule 4(c) Report. Report, dated May 14, 2021 (ECF
No. 22). In particular, Respondent noted that I.R. “was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,
EoE, and ADHD prior to the subject vaccination, “and certain alleged post-vaccination symptoms
were not fully corroborated in the record. Id. at 13; Ex. 12 at 5. Further, the records did not reveal
that I.R. had ever been diagnosed with PANS by any treaters. Id. Respondent otherwise raised
issues with the connection between these alleged injuries and the MMR vaccine, with no medical
theory to support this claim. Id. at 14–15.

3
 See also Chuisano, 116 Fed. Cl. at 285 (cautioning against rigid rules or criteria for reasonable basis because they
would subvert the discretion of special masters and stating that an amorphous definition of reasonable basis is
consistent with the Vaccine Act as a whole).

                                                         3
        Petitioners have made a number of arguments to defend the claim’s reasonable basis. They
maintain, for example, that medical charts pertaining to I.R. from the morning after the vaccine
indicated that he “began constantly twitching on his head and face. He suddenly had facial tics and
his head was moving a lot.” Final Fees Mot. at 2; Ex. 1. These facts are derived from Mrs. Roach’s
witness statement. Final Fees Mot. at 2–3; Ex. 1. Mrs. Roach further states that she called I.R.’s
doctor about the issues, but was told they likely reflected an adverse reaction that would disappear
soon. Final Fees Mot. at 3; Ex. 1. Three days post-vaccination, Mrs. Roach sought treatment for
I.R. at LaTouche Pediatrics, reporting that he was displaying a “head twitch after MMR vaccine.”
Final Fees Mot. at 3; Ex. 2 at 12. The problem had not improved seven months later, when I.R.
was evaluated by a neurologist, and Mrs. Roach continued to report observing a change post-
vaccination. Final Fees Mot. at 4; Ex. 12 at 5. Thus, Petitioners maintain, there is record support
for some potential association between the vaccine and I.R.’s symptoms. Final Fees Mot. at 4.

        Respondent, by contrast, questions whether any of this evidence establishes reasonable
basis. Response at 9. Respondent notes again the lack of corroborated diagnosis from medical
professionals. Id. While Petitioners themselves noted tics and facial movements four times over a
two-year course of treatments, none have been demonstrated to have been observed by medical
professionals. Id.; Ex. 2 at 10, 12–13; Ex. 3 at 20; Ex. 10 at 204. Indeed, a sleep language
pathologist had seventeen one-hour sessions with I.R., but never observed any movements or tics.
Response at 9; Ex. 10 at 157, 168, 170, 181, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210,
212, 214. Thus, had I.R. actually been experiencing such tics, they likely would have been
observed. Response at 9. And no treating physicians identified the vaccine as a possible cause. Id.
at 10.

        Respondent’s arguments are deserving of weight, as the overall record is largely
unsupportive of Petitioners’ claim. Had they succeeded in obtaining an expert, it is highly unlikely
Petitioners would have been able to carry their burden of proof in this case. However, the standard
for reasonable basis is not the same as the evidentiary standard required to prevail in a Vaccine
Program case. And here, there is the barest scintilla of evidence to support the claim. Thus, there
is record corroboration of Petitioner’s complaints about I.R.’s reaction to the MMR vaccine to
pediatric treaters, close in time to when they were allegedly observed. Ex. 2 at 13. While it is the
case that claimants cannot succeed with a vaccine injury petition based solely on their testimony,
a witness’s factual assertions about symptoms or other observed illness-related conduct are
relevant to numerous issues, and deserve some degree of weight. Kirby v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 2020-2064, 997 F.3d 1378, 1382–83 (Fed. Cir. 2021). Even if Petitioners’ reports of a
reaction ultimately were not confirmed by treaters, this does not prevent the conclusion that they
occurred—and hence were some objective grounds for the claim.

       Although it is regrettable that such a weak case went forward to the extent it did, I cannot

                                                 4
find that it was self-evident from the start that no facts existed to support it, and therefore deem
reasonable basis satisfied, under the lenient standard for evaluating it. However, as discussed
below, I will limit the fees awarded, since it is otherwise my conclusion that this case was
needlessly pursued, despite numerous warning signs along the way that it would fail.

II.    Calculation of Fees

       Determining the appropriate amount of the fees 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 & Hum. Servs.,
515 F.3d 1343, 1347–48 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)).
The second part involves adjusting the lodestar calculation up or down to take relevant factors into
consideration. Id. 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).

        An attorney’s reasonable hourly rate is determined by the “forum rule,” which bases the
proper hourly rate to be awarded on the forum in which the relevant court sits (Washington, D.C.,
for Vaccine Act cases), except where an attorney’s work was not performed in the forum and there
is a substantial difference in rates (the so-called “Davis exception”). Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348
(citing Davis Cty. Solid Waste Mgmt. & Energy Recovery Special Serv. Dist. v. U.S. Envtl. Prot.
Agency, 169 F.3d 755, 758 (D.C. Cir. 1999)). A 2015 decision established the hourly rate ranges
for attorneys with different levels of experience who are entitled to the forum rate in the Vaccine
Program. See McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at
*19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).

       Petitioners request the following rates for their attorneys, based on the years work was
performed:

                           2019               2020                 2021                2022

 Andrew Downing           $385.00            $385.00             $385.00             $415.00
   (Attorney)

  Courtney Van                -              $275.00             $275.00             $325.00
  Cott (Attorney)

      Paralegals          $135.00            $135.00             $135.00             $135.00

ECF No. 35-1 at 21.

                                                 5
        Mr. Downing and Ms. Van Cott practice in Phoenix, Arizona—a jurisdiction that has been
deemed “in forum.” Accordingly, he is entitled to the rates established in McCulloch. See
Perekotiy, on behalf of her minor child, S.K. v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 16-997V, 2020
WL 6395509, at *2–3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 29, 2020). The rates requested for Mr. Downing
and Ms. Van Cott are also consistent with what has previously been awarded them in accordance
with the Office of Special Masters’ fee schedule. 4 Amber Bob v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs.,
No. 20-931V, 2022 WL 457376, at *10 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 25, 2022) (granting the rates for
2020 and 2021). The rates for 2022 are also consistent with the fee schedule and number of years
each attorney has practiced. I thus find no cause to reduce them in this instance. I also deem the
time devoted to the matter reasonable (subject to the reductions discussed below).

III.    Reduction of Fees

        Although I have found that sufficient reasonable basis existed for a fees award in this case,
I am not constrained by that finding to thereupon award all fees requested. As noted, the Act never
guarantees fees to unsuccessful claimants, and special masters are always obligated only to award
fees reasonably incurred. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1). Moreover, special masters may reduce fees
by percentage amounts, and need not review billing invoices line by line, since doing so
unnecessarily renders the determination of fee awards into a mini proceeding subsumed within the
greater entitlement determination. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. at 434 (1983); Wasson v. Sec’y
of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 90-208V, 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484 (1991).

        Here, it is reasonable and appropriate to reduce the fees to be awarded. As I noted to
Petitioners in September 2021, claims that PANS could be vaccine-caused have not resulted in
favorable determinations. Scheduling Order, dated Sept. 27, 2021, at 1 (ECF No. 29), citing
Castaneda v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 15-1066V, 2020 WL 3833076 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. May 18, 2020) (PANS/Tourette syndrome after receipt of Pentacel, MMR, Hepatitis A, and
pneumococcal vaccines), mot. for review den’d, 152 Fed. Cl. 576 (2020); Heath v. Sec'y of Health
& Hum. Servs., No. 19-0749V, 2020 WL 1486840 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 19, 2020)
(PANS/autoimmune encephalitis after Tdap vaccine); Reape v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No.
15-1146V, 2017 WL 1246325, at *2 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 3, 2017) (PANS/Tourette
syndrome after flu vaccine). Petitioners have not identified any contrary recent determinations.

        Importantly, all of these PANS decisions were issued before this case was even filed,
suggesting some degree of notice to counsel of the claim’s inherent weaknesses from the outset.
Yet (as the billing invoices reveal), counsel had already been at work on the matter since November
2019, billing (by my admittedly rough calculation) $7,000 by the time the petitioner was initiated.
See Billing Invoices, dated February 3, 2022, filed as Ex. A (ECF No. 35-1). Those same invoices

4
 OSM Attorneys’ Forum Hourly Rate Fee Schedules, https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/2914 (last visited Mar.
22, 2021).

                                                     6
establish that medical records had also been reviewed in detail in advance of filing. Ex. A at 4
(attorney Van Cott devoting five hours and ten minutes on April 7, 2020, to “substantive review
of medical records”). Surely the deficiencies identified in the case by Respondent (which are, to
be honest, replete in the medical record) could have at least partially been uncovered in the seven
months counsel took to prepare the matter for filing. And yet the claim persisted after filing for
another 19 months before dismissal was requested—and in that time $12,000.00 more in attorney’s
fees were incurred.

        Counsel acted appropriately in promptly seeking dismissal when expert support for the
claim could not be obtained. Yet it is reasonable to expect more from experienced Program
counsel, like those involved in this matter. Many kinds of vaccine claims (for example, those
asserting autism as an injury) have now been demonstrated to be unviable, and therefore they
should not be asserted simply because an individual petitioner fervently believes a vaccine was
injurious, and can offer enough objective support to satisfy reasonable basis. While consenting to
the claim’s dismissal did help limit the fees ultimately incurred in the matter, it did nothing about
the fees wasted to that point in the claim’s prosecution.

        When the record convincingly suggests that a claim was highly unlikely to prevail, and it
appears that counsel had several “off ramp” opportunities to end the case before its initiation but
did not, the fees incurred in the claim’s prosecution are not reasonable—and it is fair for a special
master to reduce the amount to be awarded. As a result, and in the exercise of my discretion, I shall
reduce the fees to be awarded by an across-the-board percentage reduction of 30 percent—
meaning the amount to be awarded will be $15,222.11. This reduction is eminently fair under the
circumstances; should present counsel bring another PANS injury claim that is similarly lacking
in evidentiary support, the reduction will be far more severe.

IV.    Calculation of Attorney’s Costs

       Just as they are required to establish the reasonableness of requested fees, petitioners must
also demonstrate that requested litigation costs are reasonable. Presault v. United States, 52 Fed.
Cl. 667, 670 (2002); Perreira v. Sec’y of Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (1992).
Reasonable costs include the costs of obtaining medical records and expert time incurred while
working on a case. Fester v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No.10-243V, 2013 WL 5367670, at
*16 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 27, 2013). When petitioners fail to substantiate a cost item, such as
by not providing appropriate documentation to explain the basis for a particular cost, special
masters have refrained from paying the cost at issue. See, e.g., Gardner-Cook v. Sec’y of Health
& Hum. Servs., No. 99-480V, 2005 WL 6122520, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 30, 2005).

                                                 7
       Petitioner seeks $517.87 in outstanding costs, including medical record retrieval costs. ECF
No. 35-1 at 22–27. The medical records retrieval costs and other requested costs in this matter
appear reasonable, and they shall be awarded in full without reduction.

                                                 CONCLUSION

        Based on the foregoing, and in the exercise of the discretion afforded to me in determining
the propriety of a final fees award, I GRANT IN PART Petitioners’ Motion for Attorney’s Fees
and Costs, and award a total of $15,739.98 reflecting $15,222.11 in attorney’s fees and $517.87 in
costs in the form of a check made jointly payable to Petitioners and their attorney, Mr. Andrew
Downing.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of the
Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of this Decision. 5

         IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

5
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment if (jointly or separately) they file notices
renouncing their right to seek review.

                                                           8