Jacobs v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 08-780V (Not to be published) ************************* * Mr. and Mrs. CHARLIE JACOBS, * as parents and legal representatives * of M.A.J., a minor, * * Petitioners, * * Filed: January 29, 2015 v. * * Decision on Attorneys’ SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * Fees and Costs HUMAN SERVICES * * Respondent. * * ************************* DECISION (ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS) In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,1 I issued a decision on June 13, 2014. On January 28, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation Regarding Final Attorneys’ Fees and Litigation Costs in this matter. The parties’ stipulation requests a total payment of $23,590.50, representing attorneys’ fees and costs of $23,260.00, and $330.50 of costs expended by petitioners. An award for fees and costs is appropriate at this time, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amounts seem reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award the following attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1): • a lump sum of $23,260.00, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioners and petitioners’ counsel, Clifford J. Shoemaker, on account of services performed by counsel’s law firm. 1 The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2006). • a lump sum of $330.50, in the form of a check payable to petitioners, which represents petitioners’ own litigation expenses in this case. In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review filed pursuant to Appendix B of the Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.2 IT IS SO ORDERED /s/ George L. Hastings, Jr. George L. Hastings, Jr. Special Master 2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing the right to seek review.