Sumner v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2019 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: January 31, 2019
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHARLES E. SUMNER, *
*
Petitioner, * No. 16-1500V
* Special Master Sanders
v. *
* Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mark T. Sadaka, Mark T. Sadaka, LLC, Englewood, NJ, for Petitioner.
Adriana R. Teitel, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1
On November 14, 2016, Charles E. Sumner (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34
(2012). Petitioner alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on November 16, 2013
caused him to suffer from brachial plexopathy. See Stip. at ¶¶1-4, ECF No. 37. On June 7, 2018,
the parties filed a stipulation for award of compensation, which the undersigned adopted as her
decision awarding damages on the same day. Decision, ECF No. 38.
On November 13, 2018, Petitioner filed an application for attorneys’ fees and costs. ECF
No. 43 (“Fees App.”). Petitioner requests total attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of
1
The undersigned intends to post this Ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims'
website. This means the ruling 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this
definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished
ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned is 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).
2
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
$17,841.64 (representing $17,367.29 in fees and $474.35 in costs). Fees App at 1. Respondent
reacted to the motion on November 20, 2018, indicating that “Respondent is satisfied the statutory
requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case” and requesting that the
undersigned “exercise her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and
costs.” Resp’t’s Resp. at 2-3 (ECF No. 44). Petitioner filed his Reply on November 21, 2018,
reiterating his belief that the requested amount of attorneys’ fees and costs is reasonable. Reply at
1, ECF No. 45.
This matter is now ripe for consideration.
I. Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. § 15(e). The
Federal Circuit has approved the lodestar approach to determine reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs under the Vaccine Act. Avera v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d 1343, 1348 (Fed.
Cir. 2008). This is a two-step process. Id. First, a court determines an “initial estimate ... by
‘multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly
rate.’” Id. at 1347–48 (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). Second, the court may
make an upward or downward departure from the initial calculation of the fee award based on
specific findings. Id. at 1348.
It is “well within the special master's discretion” to determine the reasonableness of fees.
Saxton v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521–22 (Fed. Cir. 1993); see also Hines
v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 22 Cl. Ct. 750, 753 (1991). (“[T]he reviewing court must grant
the special master wide latitude in determining the reasonableness of both attorneys' fees and
costs.”). Applications for attorneys' fees must include contemporaneous and specific billing
records that indicate the work performed and the number of hours spent on said work. See Savin
v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313, 316–18 (2008).
Reasonable hourly rates are determined by looking at the “prevailing market rate” in the
relevant community. See Blum, 465 U.S. at 895. The “prevailing market rate” is akin to the rate
“in the community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience and
reputation.” Id. at 895, n.11. The petitioner bears the burden of providing adequate evidence to
prove that the requested hourly rate is reasonable. Id.a. Hourly Rates
The decision in McCulloch provides a framework for consideration of appropriate ranges
for attorneys’ fees based upon the experience of the practicing attorney. McCulloch v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1,
2015), motion for recons. denied, 2015 WL 6181910 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21, 2015). The
Court has since updated the McCulloch rates, and the Attorneys Forum Hourly Rate Fee Schedules
for 2015-2016, 2017, and 2018 can be accessed online.3
3
The 2015-2016 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule2015-
2016.pdf. The 2017 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
2
Petitioner requests that his attorney, Mr. Mark Sadaka, be compensated at the following
rates: $350.00 per hour for work performed in 2014-2015, $362.95 per hour for work performed
in 2016, $376.38 per hour for work performed in 2017, and $396.00 per hour for work performed
in 2018. Fees App. Ex. A at 11. Petitioner also requests that paralegals be compensated at rates
ranging from $135.00 per hour to $150.55 per hour, depending on the year. Id. The undersigned
finds that the requested rates are in conformance with what Mr. Sadaka and his paralegals have
consistently been awarded for their work in the Vaccine Program. Accordingly, no adjustment to
the requested rates is necessary.
b. Hours Expended
Attorneys' fees are awarded for the “number of hours reasonably expended on the
litigation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348. Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are
“excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 3
F.3d 1517, 1521 (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)).
Upon review, the undersigned finds the hours billed in this matter (56.2) to be reasonable.
The entries accurately reflect the nature of the task, and the time billed on these entries appears to
be reasonable in the undersigned’s experience. Respondent also has not identified any particular
entries as objectionable. Petitioner is therefore entitled to the full amount of attorneys’ fees sought,
$17,367.29.
c. Attorneys’ Costs
Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of attorneys’ costs must be reasonable.
Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests
a total of $474.35 in costs, covering the cost of medical records, mailing documents, and the
Court’s filing fee. Fees App. Ex. A at 12. Petitioner has provided adequate documentation for all
these costs, and the undersigned finds them all to be reasonable. Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled
to a full reimbursement of costs, $474.35.
II. Conclusion
Based on all of the above, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to the following
award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys-Forum-Rate-Fee-Schedule-2017.pdf.
The 2018 Fee Schedule can be accessed at:
http://www.cofc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Attorneys%27%20Forum%20Rate%20Fee%20S
chedule%202018.pdf. The hourly rates contained within the schedules are updated from the
decision in McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).
3
Attorneys’ Fees Requested $17,367.29
(Reduction to Fees) -
Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $17,367.29
Attorneys’ Costs Requested $474.35
(Reduction of Costs) -
Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $474.35
Total Amount Awarded $17,841.64
In accordance with the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) (2012), the undersigned has
reviewed the billing records and costs in this case and finds that Petitioner’s request for fees and
costs is reasonable. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards a total of $17,841.64 to be issued
in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Mark
Sadaka, of Mark. T. Sadaka, LLC, for attorneys’ fees and costs.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Herbrina D. Sanders
Herbrina D. Sanders
Special Master
4
Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to
seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).
4