Graham v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2019 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-0640V
UNPUBLISHED
SARAH GRAHAM,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: November 19, 2019
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU);
HUMAN SERVICES, Attorney’s Fees and Costs
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS1
On May 31, 2016, Sarah Graham (“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 Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”)
as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on October 11, 2015.
(Petition at 1). On February 1, 2019, a decision was issued awarding compensation to
Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 73).
1
Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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 ruling 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.
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 has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated September
24, 2019, (ECF No. 84), requesting a total award of $122,358.98 (representing
$95,593.90 in fees and $26,765.08 in costs). In accordance with General Order #9,
Petitioner’s counsel filed a signed statement stating Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket
expenses. (Id. at 2). Respondent reacted to the motion on October 8, 2019 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 to the Court’s discretion to determine the amount to be
awarded. (ECF No. 85). On October 11, 2019, Petitioner filed a reply requesting “the
Court award [P]etitioner all fees and costs requested in Petitioner’s Application.” (ECF
No. 86).
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. §
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
award a total of $122,358.98 (representing $95,593.90 in fees and $26,765.08 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