Court Opinion

ID: 4243433
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-08 17:04:29.679152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:21.878772
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1480V
                                   Filed: September 21, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

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

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Ann D. Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On November 9, 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 as a result of a
tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine that she received on February 3,
2016. On June 22, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to
petitioner based on respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 24.)

       On September 5, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 28.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,568.50 and
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $805.82. (Id. at 2.) In accordance with General Order

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
#9, petitioner's counsel represents that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.
Thus, the total amount requested is $16,374.32. Respondent did not file a response.

      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.

       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 response
from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs.

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards a total sum of $16,374.32 3 for
reimbursement of all attorneys' fees and costs, in the form of a check payable
jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel, Paul R. Brazil, 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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