Poduri v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2022 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-0258V
(not to be published)
DIVYA PODURI, Natural Parent and
Guardian of Y.T., a Minor, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: November 29, 2021
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Attorney’s Fees and Costs
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1
On March 6, 2020, Divya Poduri, natural parent and guardian of Y.T., a minor, 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 Y.T. suffered
an intussusception resulting from the rotavirus vaccination received on November 21,
2017. (Petition at 1). On June 8, 2021, a decision was issued awarding compensation to
Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF No. 34).
1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” 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 October 23,
2021, (ECF No. 39), requesting a total award of $15,771.59 (representing $14,846.50 in
fees and $925.09 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, counsel for Petitioner
represents that Petitioner incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 2). Respondent
reacted to the motion on October 24, 2021, 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
resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion. (ECF No. 40). By email
correspondence on October 24, 2021, counsel for Petitioner informed the staff attorneys
office that Petitioner did not intend to file a reply. See Informal Remark, October 25, 2021.
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 $15,771.59 (representing $14,846.50 in fees and $925.09 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