Filed: Dec. 05, 2019
Latest Update: Dec. 05, 2019
Summary: Not to be published DECISION ON ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On January 2, 2018, Maureen Pascual ("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 alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barr syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on October 28, 2016. (Petition at 1). On May 17, 2019, a decisio
Summary: Not to be published DECISION ON ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On January 2, 2018, Maureen Pascual ("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 alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barr syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on October 28, 2016. (Petition at 1). On May 17, 2019, a decision..
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Not to be published
DECISION ON ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS1
BRIAN H. CORCORAN, Chief Special Master.
On January 2, 2018, Maureen Pascual ("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 alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on October 28, 2016. (Petition at 1). On May 17, 2019, a decision was issued by then Chief-Special Master Dorsey, awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent's proffer. (ECF No. 34).
Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney's fees and costs, dated November 25, 2019, (ECF No. 39), requesting a total award of $31,855.67 (representing $28,680.50 in fees and $3,175.17 in costs). In accordance with General Order #9, Petitioner filed a signed statement that Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 2)). Respondent reacted to the motion on November 26, 2019 indicating that he is satisfied that the statutory requirements for an award of attorney's fees and costs are met in this case and defers to the Court's discretion to determine the amount to be awarded. (ECF No. 40). On November 26, 2019, Petitioner filed a reply requesting the Court award all fees requested. (ECF No. 41).
I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner's request. In my experience, the request appears reasonable, and I find no cause to reduce the requested hours or rates.
CONCLUSION
The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs. § 15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner's Motion for attorney's fees and costs. I award a total of $31,855.67 (representing $28,680.50 in fees and $3,175.17 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 motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
