Court Opinion

ID: 4159022
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-10 12:03:19.193747+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:21.013228
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-961V
                                      Filed: June 7, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
JENNIFER RICCI,                                   *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Maximillian Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Robert Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On September 2, 2015, Jennifer Ricci (“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 she
suffered a shoulder injury caused in fact by the influenza vaccination she received on
October 14, 2014. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 4, 12. On April 28, 2016, the undersigned issued
a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on respondent’s proffer to which
petitioner agreed. (ECF No. 23).

      On April 13, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 21). Petitioner requested attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,759.00 and
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

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).
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,486.61 for a total amount of $17,245.61. Id. at ¶ 4.
In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Id. On April 13, 2016, respondent filed a response
to petitioner’s motion. (ECF No. 22).

        In her response, 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. Respondent further “asserts that a reasonable
amount for fees and costs in the present case would fall between $12,000.00 to
$14,000.00” but provides no basis or explanation for how she arrived at this proposed
range. Id. at 3.

        A review of the billing records revealed a number of billed-for activities had no
associated date because the motion was filed before the activities were performed.
Petitioner was allowed time to file an amended motion for attorney’s fees and costs.
Order, issued May 5, 2016 (ECF No. 26). In her amended motion, petitioner seeks an
increased amount for attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,886.50 and the same amount
for attorneys’ costs of $1,486.61 for a new total of $17,373.11. By email
correspondence with the parties, the OSM staff attorney managing this SPU case
confirmed that the parties did not intend to file any additional response or reply to
petitioner’s amended motion. Respondent’s counsel indicated respondent continued to
stand by the arguments set forth in her April 13, 2016 response.

        A comparison between the billing records filed with petitioner’s April 13, 2016
motion and those filed with the amended motion reveals the increased amount
requested for attorneys’ fees can be attributed to some additional work performed by
petitioner’s counsel. The undersigned will award fees for work unrelated to the
amended motion for attorneys’ fees and costs, for example - the review of the 240 day
order erroneously issued on May 2, 2016. The undersigned will deduct .6 hours of time
(resulting in a deduction of $153.00) for work performed reviewing and responding to
the staff attorney’s correspondence on April 28, 2016 and reviewing the undersigned’s
May 5, 2016 order allowing petitioner to file an amended motion to provide an
associated date for the previously undated entries if the task had not been performed.

      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.

                                            2
      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $17,220.113 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Maximillian Muller.

        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.

                                                      3