Court Opinion

ID: 6325183
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-21 17:01:47.689262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:44.255098
License: Public Domain

REISSUED FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                                    MAR 21 2022
                                                                                        OSM
                                                                            U.S. COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                 In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    Originally Filed: February 8, 2022
                                Refiled in Redacted Form: March 21, 2022

* * *        *    *   *   *     *   *   *   *   *   *
A.F.P.,                                     *       UNPUBLISHED
                                                    *
                  Petitioner,                       *   No. 21-1990V
                                                    *
        v.                                          *   Special Master Dorsey
                                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                 *   Application for Fees and Costs.
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                 *
                                                    *
                  Respondent.                       *
                                                    *
*   *   *    *    *   *   *     *   *   *   *   *   *

A.F.P., pro se, for petitioner.
Tyler King, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    DECISION AWARDING COSTS 1

       On October 8, 2021, A.F.P. (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Act” or “the Program”), 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2012). 2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered shoulder pain and
polymyalgia rheumatica as a result of a pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar 13”) vaccination on
October 8, 2018. Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1).

1
  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,
the undersigned is required 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). This means the Decision will
be available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012). All citations in this Decision are to individual sections of
the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
                                                      1
       This case was reassigned to the undersigned on October 12, 2021. Notice of
Reassignment dated Oct. 12, 2021 (ECF No. 8). Thereafter, the undersigned held a status
conference on November 17, 2021, where petitioner was directed to file her outstanding medical
records by January 18, 2022. Order dated Nov. 17, 2021 (ECF No. 13).

        On January 18, 2022, petitioner filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, indicating that
petitioner elects to voluntarily dismiss her petition under Vaccine Rule 21(a)(1). The
undersigned issued an Order Concluding Proceedings on February 7, 2022. Order Concluding
Proceedings dated Feb. 7, 2022 (ECF No. 17).

        On January 18, 2022, petitioner filed a motion reimbursement of fees and costs,
requesting reimbursement of the $402.00 filing fee. Petitioner’s Application for Fees and Costs
(“Pet. Mot.”), filed Jan. 18, 2022 (ECF No. 15).

        Respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion on January 19, 2022, stating he “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this
case.” Respondent’s Response to Pet. Mot., filed Jan. 19, 2022, at 2 (ECF No. 16).

       This matter is now ripe for adjudication. For the reasons discussed below, the
undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion and awards $402.00 in costs.

I.     DISCUSSION

        Under the Vaccine Act, the special master shall award reasonable attorneys’ fees and
costs for any petition that results in an award of compensation. § 15(e)(1). When
compensation is not awarded, the special master “may” award reasonable fees and costs “if the
special master or court determines that the petition was brought in good faith and there was a
reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.” Id. If a special master has
not yet determined entitlement, she may still award attorneys’ fees and costs on an interim
basis. Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 515 F.3d 1343, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Such
awards “are particularly appropriate in cases where proceedings are protracted and costly
experts must be retained.” Id. Similarly, it is proper for a special master to award interim fees
and costs “[w]here the claimant establishes that the cost of litigation has imposed an undue
hardship and that there exists a good faith basis for the claim.” Shaw v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., 609 F.3d 1372, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2010).

      The claim appears to have been brought in good faith and built on a reasonable basis.
Moreover, the undersigned finds that an award costs is appropriate here.

       A.      Costs

        Petitioner requests $402.00 to cover the filing fee. Pet. Mot. at 1. The undersigned finds
this cost reasonable and well-documented, and she will award this cost in full.

II.    CONCLUSION

                                                 2
        Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that it is reasonable to compensate
petitioner as follows:

       Requested Costs:                                                     $ 402.00
       Reduction of Costs:                                                  - ($ 0.00)
       Awarded Costs:                                                       $ 402.00

       Total Costs:                                                         $ 402.00

       Accordingly, the undersigned awards:

        A lump sum in the amount of $402.00, representing reimbursement for reasonable
costs, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Ms. A.F.P.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of
Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with this Decision. 3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             /s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             Special Master

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                3