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Sanders v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 18-1529 (2020)

Court: United States Court of Federal Claims Number: 18-1529 Visitors: 8
Judges: Brian H. Corcoran
Filed: Oct. 20, 2020
Latest Update: Oct. 20, 2020
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1529V (not to be published) ANTHONY SANDERS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: September 16, 2020 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU); HUMAN SERVICES, Attorney’s Fees and Costs Respondent. Michael Andrew London, Douglas & London, P.C., New York, NY, for Petitioner. Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS
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    In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-1529V
                                        (not to be published)


    ANTHONY SANDERS,
                                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: September 16, 2020


    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit                 (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Attorney’s Fees and Costs


                         Respondent.


Michael Andrew London, Douglas & London, P.C., New York, NY, for Petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                       DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1

      On October 3, 2018, Anthony Sanders (“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 he suffers from Guillain-
Barre Syndrome as a result of an influenza vaccination that was administered on October
20, 2015. (Petition at 1). On February 6, 2020, a decision was issued awarding
compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 35).



1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (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 information, 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 from
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 references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
      Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, dated August 6,
2020 (ECF No. 41), requesting a total award of $10,216.85 (representing $9,119.50 in
fees and $1,097.35 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner filed a
signed statement indicating that he incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (ECF No. 41-4).
Respondent did not file a response.

      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.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Section
15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. I
award a total of $10,216.85 (representing $9,119.50 in fees and $1,097.35 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.

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




3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
                                                 2


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