UNPUBLISHED

DECISION ON ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS1

THOMAS L. GOWEN, Special Master.

On May 12, 2016, Margaret Zamora ("petitioner") filed a claim in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 alleging that she suffered from injuries, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as a result of a TDaP vaccination she received on April 21, 2013. ECF No. 1. On December 29, 2017, I issued a decision dismissing petitioner's claim for insufficient proof. ECF No. 36.

On January 27, 2018, petitioner filed a motion for attorneys' fees and costs ("Motion"). ECF No. 37. Petitioner requests a total of $19,589.00 as reimbursement for attorneys' fees, and $4,235.88 as reimbursement for costs. Motion at 8-9. Thus, petitioner requests a total of $23,824.88 as reimbursement for attorneys' fees and costs. Id. at 1. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner's counsel represents that petitioner has not incurred any costs in pursuit of this claim. Id.

On February 6, 2018, respondent filed a response to petitioner's motion ("Response"). ECF No. 39. Respondent argues that "[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule 13 contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a petitioner for an award of attorneys' fees and costs." Response at 1. Further, respondent "is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys' fees and costs are met in this case." Id. at 2. Respondent "respectfully recommends that the Special Master exercise his discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys' fees and costs." Id. at 3.

Petitioner has not filed a reply. This matter is now ripe for adjudication.

I and other special masters have previously found the hourly rates requested by petitioner's counsel to be reasonable. Thompson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-1440V, 2017 WL 4053244 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 14, 2017); Tyrell v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-870V, 2017 WL 2859459 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 9, 2017); Cooper v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-471V, 2017 WL 1435880 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 30, 2017). In accord with those recent decisions, I find the hourly rates requested by petitioner's counsel to be reasonable and award them in full.

I have reviewed the billing records and invoices submitted with petitioner's motion. The billing entries reflect the nature of each task performed, the amount of time expended, and the person performing each task. The expenses incurred are well-documented and based on my experience they appear reasonable. I find no cause to adjust the time expended or the costs. Thus, the requested attorneys' fees and costs are awarded in full.

In accordance with the foregoing, petitioner's motion for attorneys' fees and costs is GRANTED. Accordingly, I award the following:

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT herewith.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.