Watson v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2022 )


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  •     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
    No. 19-1118V
    (not to be published)
    SUSAN WATSON,
    Chief Special Master Corcoran
    Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: December 22, 2021
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Attorney’s Fees and Costs
    Respondent.
    Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.
    Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
    DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1
    On July 31, 2019, Susan Watson (“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 shoulder injury related to
    vaccine administration as a result of an influenza vaccine administered to her on January
    11, 2018. (Petition at 1). On September 27, 2021, a decision was issued awarding
    compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 34).
    1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
    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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
    Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated December 7,
    2021, (ECF No. 39), requesting a total award of $17,612.83 (representing $16,601.70 in
    fees and $1,011.13 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a
    signed statement indicating that Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF No.
    39-4). Respondent reacted to the motion on December 10, 2021, indicating that he is
    satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney’s fees and costs are met
    in this case, and defers resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion. (ECF
    No. 41). By email correspondence on December 10, 2021, counsel for Petitioner informed
    the staff attorneys office that Petitioner did not intend to file a reply. See Informal Remark,
    December 13, 2021.
    I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. In my
    experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested
    hours or rates.
    The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Section
    15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
    award a total of $17,612.83 (representing $16,601.70 in fees and $1,011.13 in costs) as
    a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel.
    In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the
    Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    s/Brian H. Corcoran
    Brian H. Corcoran
    Chief Special Master
    3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice
    renouncing their right to seek review.
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19-1118

Judges: Brian H. Corcoran

Filed Date: 1/24/2022

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 1/25/2022