Court Opinion

ID: 4243971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-09 21:04:26.507838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:13.611472
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-0851V
                                    Filed: October 13, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

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

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Amber D. Wilson, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Voris E. Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On July 20, 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 as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
September 30, 2015, she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”). On May 25, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding
compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ joint stipulation. (ECF No. 31.)

       On September 14, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs.
(ECF No. 35.) Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $15,783.80 and
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,127.38. Id. In compliance with General Order #9,

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that she incurred no out-of-pocket
expenses. (ECF No. 35-3.) Thus, the total amount requested is $16,911.18.

        On September 25, 2017, respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion.
(ECF No. 36.) 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 he “is
satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case.” Id. at 2. Respondent “respectfully recommends that the Chief Special
Master exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees
and costs.” Id. at 3.

       On October 2, 2017, petitioner filed a reply. (ECF No. 37.) Petitioner disputes
respondent’s characterization of his role in resolving attorneys’ fees and costs, objects
to respondent’s failure to address specific issues, and reiterates petitioner’s position that
the amount requested is reasonable.

      The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner’s
request. In the undersigned’s experience, the request appears reasonable, except for
the necessary reductions discussed below.

       Ms. Wilson requests 25.2 hours in 2016 at a rate of $301 per hour, and 12.6
hours in 2017 at a rate of $308 per hour. (ECF No. 35-1.) The undersigned reduces
Ms. Wilson’s hourly rates to $275 for 2016 and $290 for 2017. See Bailey v. Sec'y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 16-0585V, 2017 WL ------- (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21,
2017) (reducing Ms. Wilson’s rates to those reflected above). This results in a reduction
of $882.00. 3

        Additionally, on November 10 and 11, 2016, Ms. Wilson billed 9.5 hours of travel
at her full hourly rate. (ECF No. 35-1.) Consistent with routine practice in this program,
the undersigned reduces petitioner’s counsel’s hourly rate for this travel time by 50
percent. See, e.g., Hocraffer v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 2011 WL 3705153, at
*24 (noting that “Special masters consistently award compensation for travel time at
50% of the billing rate in the Vaccine Program.”); J.L.D. v. Sec'y of Health & Human
Servs., 2017 WL 563189, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 18, 2017) (“Upon further
review of the billing records, I noted that [petitioner’s counsel] billed a total of 19.6 hours
of travel time in 2015. While an attorney may bill for work performed while traveling,
special masters consistently awarded compensation for travel time at 50% of the billing
rate in the Vaccine Program.” (internal citations omitted)). This results in a reduction of
$1,306.25. 4

3 2016: ($301 - $275) x 25.2 hours = $655.20 reduction + 2017: ($308 - $290) x 12.6 hours = $226.80
reduction = $882.00.
4   ($275 - $137.50) x 9.5 hours = $1,306.25.
                                                  2
      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, minus the reductions
discussed above, which total $2,188.25.

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $14,722.93 5 as a lump
sum, representing reimbursement for all attorneys' fees and costs, in the form of
a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel Amber D. Wilson. 6

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith. 7

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                           Chief Special Master

5This 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).

6Petitioner requests that the check be forwarded to Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street,
Suite 710, Sarasota Florida 34236.

7 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