Vavrik v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 11-868V (Not to be published) ***************************** * JACQUELINE VAVRIK, * * Filed: May 18, 2015 Petitioner, * * Decision by Stipulation; Attorney’s v. * Fees & Costs * SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * ***************************** John R. Howie, Jr., Dallas, TX, for Petitioner Althea Walker Davis, Washington, DC, for Respondent ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS DECISION 1 On December 9, 2011, Jacqueline Vavrik filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (Athe Vaccine Program@). On September 22, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation detailing an amount to be awarded to Petitioner. I subsequently issued a decision finding the parties’ stipulation to be reasonable and granting Petitioner the award outlined by the stipulation. On May 18, 2015, counsel for both parties filed another joint stipulation, this time in regards to attorney’s fees and costs. The parties have stipulated that Petitioner’s counsel should receive a lump sum of $34,476.36, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s 1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the posted decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole decision will be available to the public. (Id.) counsel. This amount represents a sum to which respondent does not object. In addition, and in compliance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner has represented that she did not incur any reimbursable costs in proceeding on this petition. I approve the requested amount for attorney’s fees and costs as reasonable. Accordingly, an award should be made in the form of a check in the amount of $34,476.36 payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, John R. Howie, Jr., Esq. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED. /s/ Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Special Master 2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review.