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


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  • In the United States Court of Federal Claims
    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
    *********************
    NORA KENNEY,                         *
    *     No. 11-363V
    Petitioner,        *     Special Master Christian J. Moran
    *
    v.                                   *
    *
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH                  *     Filed: February 22, 2016
    AND HUMAN SERVICES,                  *
    *     Attorneys’ fees and costs
    Respondent.        *
    *********************
    Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for
    petitioner;
    Debra A. Filteau Begley, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for
    respondent.
    UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING
    ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1
    Nora Kenney was denied compensation through the National Childhood
    Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §300aa—10 through 34 (2012). Decision, issued
    Jan. 16, 2015. Previously, she was awarded attorneys’ fees and costs on an interim
    basis based upon a stipulation. Decision, issued Nov. 18, 2014. She now seeks an
    award of final attorneys’ fees and costs. She is awarded $4,487.65.
    ***
    The present case is similar to other recently decided cases involving the law
    firm representing this petitioner. In short, the parties did not agree to a reasonable
    1
    The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
    Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
    website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
    redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
    Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
    hourly rate for the attorneys representing petitioners in the Vaccine Program and
    the dispute led to litigation. For a more complete recitation of events, see
    McCulloch v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 
    2015 WL 5634323
    (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015) and Avchen v. Sec’y of Health & Human
    Servs., No. 14-279V, 
    2015 WL 9595415
    (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 4, 2015).
    Ms. Kenney presently requests an award of $4,901.00 in attorneys’ fees and
    $22.65 in attorneys’ costs. The Secretary’s remaining objection concerns the
    amount of time the attorneys spent.
    The Secretary’s objection that work performed by multiple attorneys
    duplicated the work the primary attorney performed is well founded. This results
    in a deduction of $436.00.
    Ms. Kenney is awarded $4,487.65 in attorneys’ fees and costs. This shall be
    paid as follows:
    $4,487.65 representing attorneys’ fees and costs. The award shall be
    in the form of a check made payable jointly to petitioner and
    petitioner’s attorney, Ronald Homer, of Conway, Homer & Chin-
    Caplan, in the amount of $4,487.65.
    In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the
    clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.
    Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Shannon Proctor, at
    (202) 357-6360.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    s/Christian J. Moran
    Christian J. Moran
    Special Master
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 11-363

Judges: Christian J. Moran

Filed Date: 3/17/2016

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 3/17/2016