Paul v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-1938V

ANWESA PAUL, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: September 9, 2024

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Alison Haskins, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Aventura FL, for Petitioner.

Mary Novakovic, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

On December 30, 2022, Anwesa Paul 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 she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration a defined Table injury, after receiving an influenza vaccine on November 5, 2020. Petition, ECF No. 1. On February 28, 2024, I issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. ECF No. 25.

1 Because 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 inf ormation, 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 f rom 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 ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $53,393.77 (representing $51,775.20 in fees plus $1,618.57 in costs). Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Motion”) filed May 13, 2024, ECF No. 31. Furthermore, Petitioner filed a signed statement representing that Petitioner incurred no personal out- of-pocket expenses. Id. at 58.

Respondent reacted to the motion on May 17, 2024, 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. Motion at 2-3, ECF No. 32.

I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request. The hourly rates requested for attorneys Jessica Wallace and Debra Gambella are reasonable and consistent with our prior determinations and will therefore be awarded herein. Ms. Mazoff, however, was previously awarded the lesser rate of $375 per hour for all time billed in 2023, less than what is being requested herein. See W.R., v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 20-1401, Slip Op, 60 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 23, 2023). And retroactive rate increases are not permitted in the Vaccine Program. See, e.g. Ramirez v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 16-1180V, 2019 WL 948385, at *2 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 30, 2019) (noting that counsel “should only submit billing logs that reflect the hourly rate previously awarded to him.”). I find no reason to deviate from such reasoned determination, and therefore reduce Ms. Mazoff’s 2023 rate to $375 as previously awarded for that year. This results in a reduction in the amount of fees to be awarded of $123.20. 3

Petitioner has otherwise provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs. ECF No. 31-3. 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 in part, Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I award a total of $53,270.57 (representing $51,652.00 in fees plus $1,618.57 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

3 This amount is calculated as: ($389 - $375 = $14 x 8.80 hrs. = $123.20).

2 motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

4 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. 3