DECISION1

LISA D. HAMILTON-FIELDMAN, Special Master.

On October 29, 2013, Seechel Patel ("Petitioner") filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged that, as a result of the administration of an influenza ("flu") vaccine on November 26, 2010, she suffered from "shoulder injury, including, but not limited to, bursitis, tendonitis, rotator cuff tear and frozen shoulder." Petition ("Pet") at 1. On July 8, 2015, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner. Judgment entered on the decision on July 13, 2015.

On November 9, 2015, Petitioner's counsel filed a motion seeking reimbursement for $32,887.10 in attorneys' fees3 and $16,662.17 in attorneys' costs. Petitioner's counsel also sought reimbursement for $552.15 in costs that had been personally incurred by Petitioner. See General Order #9 Statement, filed November 9, 2015. The total amount requested was $50,101.42.

On November 25, 2015, Respondent filed a response to Petitioner's Application for Attorneys' Fees and Costs. However, this Response did not contain any specific substantive objections; Respondent "defer[ed] to the Special Master's statutory discretion in determining a reasonable fee award for this case."

On December 3, 2015, the undersigned convened a status conference to discuss counsel's pending fees and costs application. During the status conference, the undersigned informed the parties that she intended to compensate Mr. Homer and his firm's staff at the rates that were awarded in McCulloch, but that she would reduce Mr. Homer's hourly rate for 8.5 hours of travel time4. See Order, filed December 3, 2015. The undersigned directed Petitioner's counsel to draft a decision that incorporated the McCulloch rates and the appropriate reductions in hours. Petitioner's counsel filed his draft on December 9, 2015. On December 17, 2015, Respondent's counsel indicated that he did not intend to file a response to Petitioner's draft. This matter is now ripe for ruling.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). The undersigned acknowledges Respondent's continued objections to the McCulloch rates but remains in agreement with McCulloch's outcome. Based on the reasonableness of Petitioner's request, the undersigned GRANTS Petitioner's motion for payment of attorneys' fees and costs minus the reductions noted above.

In addition, the undersigned awards an additional 1.5 hours of attorney time, expended by Christina Ciampolillo at an hourly rate of $300.00, for counsel's preparation for the substantive status conference held on December 3, 2015, and for submission of a draft decision on attorneys' fees and costs. This amounts to an additional $450.00.

Accordingly, the undersigned awards:

1. A lump sum of $48,299.27, representing reimbursement for attorneys' fees and costs, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner, Seechel Patel, and Petitioner's counsel, Mr. Ronald Homer, of the law firm of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C.; and

2. A lump sum of $552.15, representing reimbursement for Petitioner's costs, in the form of a check payable solely to Petitioner, Seechel Patel.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.