Cote v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

• Court: United States Court of Federal Claims
• Decided: March 30, 2026
• Docket: 21-0307V
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-0307V

STEPHEN COTE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: February 10, 2026 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, for Petitioner.

Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

On January 7, 2021, Stephen Cote 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 alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration following an influenza vaccine he received on October 11, 2019. Petition, ECF No. 1. On November 28, 2023, I issued a ruling on entitlement finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 34. On September 2, 2025, I issued a decision

1Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made

publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). awarding compensation to Petitioner following briefing and expedited Motions Day arguments by the parties. ECF No. 54.

Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $47,792.90 (representing $45,898.20 in fees plus $1,894.70 in costs). Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Motion”) filed January 19, 2026, ECF No. 60. Furthermore, Petitioner filed a signed statement representing that no personal out-of-pocket expenses were incurred. ECF No. 60 at 2.

Respondent reacted to the motion on February 2, 2026, indicating that he is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion. Respondent’s Response to Motion at 2-3, 3 n.2, ECF No. 61. On February 4, 2026, Petitioner filed a reply requesting that the amount of fees and costs listed in Petitioner’s motion be awarded. ECF No. 62.

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. The rates requested for work performed through 2025 are reasonable and consistent with our prior determinations and will therefore be awarded herein.

Regarding the time billed, I note this case required additional briefing regarding damages. See Petitioner’s Motion for Ruling on the Record Regarding Damages, filed Aug. 19, 2024, ECF No. 45; Petitioner’s Reply to Respondent’s Response to Petitioner’s Motion for Ruling on the Record, filed Oct. 15, 2024, ECF No. 48; Petitioner’s counsel expended approximately 11.8 hours drafting the damages brief and 8.6 hours drafting the responsive brief, for a combined total of 20.4 hours. ECF No. 60-1 at 10-11. I find this amount of time to be reasonable and will award the attorney’s fees requested. And all time billed to the matter was also reasonably incurred.

Furthermore, Petitioner has provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs. ECF No. 60-2 at 2-12. Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought. I find the requested costs reasonable and hereby award them in full.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successful claimants. Section 15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. Petitioner is awarded attorneys’ fees and costs in the total amount of $47,792.90 (representing $45,898.20 in fees plus $1,894.70 in costs) to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the 2 Rules of the Court), the Clerk of Court 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. 3