Snyder v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2021 )


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  •     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
    No. 19-0024V
    (not to be published)
    JOLENE SNYDER,
    Chief Special Master Corcoran
    Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: July 26, 2021
    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.
    Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
    DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1
    On January 4, 2019, Jolene Snyder (“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 after receiving the influenza vaccination on October 31, 2017.
    (Petition at 1). On November 24, 2020, a decision was issued awarding compensation to
    Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 36).
    1
    Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 “§” ref erences 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 June 28,
    2021, (ECF No. 40), requesting a total award of $34,579.82 (representing $32,440.00 in
    fees and $2,139.82 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a
    signed statement indicating that she incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 2).
    Respondent reacted to the motion on July 6, 2021, indicating that he is satisfied that the
    statutory requirements for an award are met in this case and defers resolution of the
    amount to be awarded to my discretion. (ECF No. 41). Petitioner filed a reply on July 6,
    2021, requesting that the Court award all fees and costs requested in Petitioner’s
    application. (ECF No. 42).
    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). I award a total of $34,579.82 (representing $32,440.00 in fees and $2,139.82 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 f iling a joint notice
    renouncing their right to seek review.
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19-24

Judges: Brian H. Corcoran

Filed Date: 8/25/2021

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 8/25/2021