Day v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2016 )


Menu:
  •     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
    No. 12-630V
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    *************************                                UNPUBLISHED
    LAURA DAY as parent and natural           *
    guardian of B.K.D.,                       *
    *
    Petitioner,          *              Chief Special Master Dorsey
    v.                                        *
    *
    *
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *              Interim Attorneys’ Fees & Costs;
    AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *              Reasonable Amount Requested to
    *              which Respondent Does Not Object.
    Respondent.          *
    *************************
    Anne Carrion Toale, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
    Gordon Elliot Shemin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
    INTERIM ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS DECISION1
    On September 24, 2012, Laura Day (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
    the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”), 2 as the legal representative
    of her daughter, B.K.D, in which she alleged that the Gardasil (“HPV”) and FluMist (“influenza”)
    vaccinations B.K.D. received on September 28, 2011, caused her to develop multiple sclerosis
    (“MS”). Petition at 3, ¶11. Petitioner further alleged that the vaccinations “actually caused, or,
    alternatively, significantly aggravated” B.K.D.’s injuries. Id. After the filing of the petition, it
    was discovered that B.K.D. actually suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder known as
    neuromyelitis optica (“NMO”) or Devic’s Syndrome, rather than MS. See Petitioner’s (“Pet’r’s”)
    1
    Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
    the undersigned intends to post this decision on the website of the United States Court of Federal
    Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 
    116 Stat. 2899
    ,
    2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which
    to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or
    commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
    medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted
    invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the entire decision will be available to the
    public. 
    Id.
    2
    The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42
    U.S.C. § 300aa.
    Exhibit (“Ex.”) 6 at 13. On November 13, 2015, the undersigned issued a decision finding that
    petitioner was entitled to compensation.
    On January 22, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation concerning interim attorneys’ fees and
    costs. Petitioner requests a total award of interim attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
    $112,500.00. Stipulation at ¶ 4. Respondent does not object to an award in this amount. Id. at ¶
    4.
    The undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award of interim attorneys’ fees and
    costs under the unique facts and circumstances of this case. See Butler v. Sec’y of Health &
    Human Servs., No. 02-1051, 
    2012 WL 4458203
     (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 25, 2012) (awarding
    interim attorneys’ fees and costs over respondent’s objection); Shaw v. Sec’y of Health &
    Human Servs., 
    609 F.3d 1372
    , 1375 (Fed. Cr. 2010) (holding that “[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, it is proper for the special master to award interim attorneys’ fees”);
    Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 
    515 F.3d 1343
    , 1352 (Fed. Cir. 2008). The
    undersigned finds that paragraphs 4-6 of the stipulation are reasonable and adopts them as the
    decision of the Court in awarding interim attorneys’ fees and costs, on the terms set forth therein.
    Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards a total of $112,500.00 issued in the
    form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Anne Toale of
    Maglio, Christopher & Toale, for interim attorneys’ fees and costs.
    In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
    court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    s/Nora Beth Dorsey
    Nora Beth Dorsey
    Chief 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.
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 12-630

Judges: Nora Beth Dorsey

Filed Date: 2/17/2016

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 2/17/2016