UNPUBLISHED

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS1

NORA BETH DORSEY, Chief Special Master.

On November 3, 2016, petitioner 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA") as the result of an October 12, 2015 influenza ("flu") vaccination. On August 2, 2017, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the parties' stipulation. (ECF No. 23.)

On August 30, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys' fees and costs. (ECF No. 27.) Petitioner requests attorneys' fees in the amount of $13,164.00 and attorneys' costs in the amount of $665.77. (Id. at 1-2.) In compliance with General Order #9, petitioner filed a signed statement indicating that petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, the total amount requested is $26,420.45.

Respondent filed no response.

It is well established that an application for fees and costs must sufficiently detail and explain the time billed so that a special master may determine, from the application and the case file, whether the amount requested is reasonable. Bell v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 18 Cl. Ct. 751, 760 (1989); Rodriguez v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 06-559V, 2009 WL 2568468 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 27, 2009). Petitioners bear the burden of documenting the fees and costs claimed. Rodriguez, 2009 WL 2568468, at *8.

The undersigned has reviewed the billing records submitted with petitioner's request. In the undersigned's experience, the request appears reasonable, and the undersigned finds no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates. However, consistent this Court's practice, the undersigned reduces the claimed cost of certain expenses where no documentation was provided.

Petitioner seeks $111.00 for "Travel Meals: 10/27/16 Client Meeting:The Hamilton" (ECF No. 27-4 at 1), however no invoice was filed for this expense. Furthermore, cross-referencing the submitted receipts with counsel's time log reveals that counsel is requesting reimbursement for meals during days and times that the time log does not show any accompanying travel. (See ECF No. 27-3 at 5, showing the only time entry for October 27, 2016 as 2.80 hours "Meet with client in person to introduce the Vaccine Program, to explain procedure, and to discuss categories of damages applicable to this case.") The undersigned finds that, as is consistent with this Court's practice, it is not reasonable to reimburse petitioners' counsel for the cost of meals and other miscellaneous expenses on typical work days in the area where he normally works and resides. Reginelli v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 14-972V, 2016 WL 1161309, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Mar. 1, 2016). Therefore, petitioner's expenses are thus reduced by $110.00.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. § 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner's request, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner's motion for attorneys' fees and costs.

Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $13,719.773 as a lump sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner's counsel Isaiah Kalinowski.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.