Court Opinion

ID: 4080535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-07 12:03:02.342537+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:06:13.223932
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-959V
                                     Filed: August 5, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
AMY LEE DILLSON,                                  *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Danny Ray Ellis, Massey & Associates, P.C., Chattanooga, TN, for petitioner.
Alexis Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On October 8, 2014, 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 alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury as
a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 12, 2012. On August 21, 2015, the
undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on
respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 32).

      On August 2, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. (ECF
No. 39). Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $3,840.00. Id. at 1. In

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
compliance with General Order #9, petitioner has filed a signed statement indicating
petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. 3

      On August 3, 2016, respondent indicated by email correspondence that
respondent has no objection to the amount requested in petitioner’s motion. (See
Informal Remark, dated August 4, 2016).

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

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $3,840.00 4 as a lump sum
in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Danny
Ray Ellis, Esq.

        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

3
 Petitioner’s statement pursuant to General Order No. 9 was incorrectly filed on August 5, 2016, as a
“stipulation.” (See ECF No. 40.)

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, § 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).

5 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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