Hradek v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 09-179V (Not to be published) ************************* * DALIBOR HRADEK and * DEBBY HRADEK, parents * of F.H., a minor, * * Petitioners, * * Filed: March 30, 2016 v. * * Autism; Decision on Attorneys’ SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * Fees and Costs HUMAN SERVICES * * Respondent. * * ************************* DECISION (ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS) In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,1 I issued a Decision on March 1, 2016. On March 29, 2016, Petitioners filed an Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, requesting a total payment of $47,085.22, representing attorneys’ fees and costs of $45,379.52, and $1,705.70 of costs expended by Petitioners. On March 29, 2016, Respondent contacted a member of my staff by e-mail to confirm that Respondent has no objection to this request. I find that this Petition was filed and pursued in good faith and with a reasonable basis. Thus, 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 $45,379.52, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioners and Petitioners’ counsel, Edward Kraus, 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. (2012). • a lump sum of $1,705.70, 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.