McIntosh v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
No. 16-29V
Filed: June 14, 2018
Re-issued for Publication: July 9, 20181
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
*
ETTA B. MCINTOSH, *
Petitioner, *
*
v. * Vaccine Act; Reasonable Attorneys’
* Fees and Costs; Responsibility for
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT * Review.
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN *
SERVICES, *
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Jennifer Ann Gore Maglio, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, Florida,
for petitioner. With her was Diana L. Stadelnikas, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA,
Sarasota, Florida.
Voris E. Johnson Jr., Senior Trial Attorney, Torts Branch, Civil Division, United
States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. for respondent. With him were Chad A.
Readler, Acting Assistant Attorney General, C. Salvatore D’Alessio, Acting Director,
Catherine E. Reeves, Deputy Director, Heather C. Pearlman, Assistant Director, Torts
Branch, Civil Division.
OPINION
HORN, J.
On January 7, 2016, petitioner,2 Etta B. McIntosh, filed a timely petition for
compensation with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, under the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
1 This opinion was issued under seal on June 14, 2018. The parties did not propose
redactions to the June 14, 2018 opinion, thus, the court issues the decision without
redactions for public distribution.
2 Although, as described below, the government filed the motion for review in this court in
the above captioned case, because the petitioner, Ms. McIntosh, filed the initial petition,
she remains identified as the petitioner for the motion for review, and the government
remains identified as the respondent.
alleging that a flu vaccine she received on October 28, 2013 caused her to sustain an
injury subsequently diagnosed as transverse myelitis.
On August 10, 2017, the petitioner and the respondent, the Secretary of the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, filed a joint stipulation resolving
compensation between the parties, and on August 11, 2017, Special Master Christian J.
Moran of the United States Court of Federal Claims issued a decision finding that the
stipulation was “reasonable” and adopted it as the decision of the Special Master.3 See
McIntosh v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-29V, 2017 WL 6945565 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Aug. 11, 2017). Judgment was entered on August 18, 2017.
On November 29, 2017, petitioner’s counsel filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
reimbursement of case costs with Special Master Moran. Petitioner’s counsel noted in the
motion that, “[p]rior to filing this motion undersigned counsel attempted to resolve the
amount of attorneys’ fees and costs with Respondent, providing the relevant materials to
the Respondent’s counsel on September 20, 2017, but unfortunately, Counsel for
Respondent has advised they are no longer reviewing motions for attorneys’ fees.” In the
motion, petitioner’s counsel indicated that “[p]etitioner incurred attorneys' fees in the
litigation of this matter in the amount of $15,139.80,” and “[p]etitioner incurred case costs
in the litigation of this matter in the amount of $1,307.98.” Therefore, petitioner’s counsel
asked the Special Master to award attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $16,447.78.
On December 13, 2017, respondent, the Secretary of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services, represented by the United States Department
of Justice, filed a response, and indicated that “[n]either the Vaccine Act nor Vaccine Rule
13 [of the Vaccine Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims, Appendix B (2017)
(Vaccine Rules)] contemplates any role for respondent in the resolution of a request by a
petitioner for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs.” Respondent continued:
To the extent the Special Master is treating petitioner’s request for
attorneys’ fees and costs as a motion that requires a response from
respondent, respondent states the following: Respondent is satisfied the
statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in
this case. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1)(A)-(B). The Federal Circuit has
made it clear that “the determination of the amount of reasonable attorneys’
fees is within the special master’s discretion.” Saxton v. HHS, 3 F.3d 1517,
1520 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Special Masters are thus accorded “wide discretion
in determining the reasonableness” of a petitioner’s request for reasonable
attorneys’ fees and costs. Perreira v. HHS, 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (1992), aff’d,
33 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 1994).
Respondent concluded by stating: “Respondent respectfully recommends that the
Special Master exercise his discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’
3The stipulation called for a lump sum payment of $1,596.68 to the Alabama Medicaid
Agency and a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 to petitioner.
2
fees and costs.” (footnote omitted). Respondent, the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services, added in a footnote:
Respondent no longer has sufficient resources to provide detailed
objections to requests for attorneys’ fees and costs, which it previously
provided as a courtesy to the Court. In addition, in respondent’s experience,
providing detailed objections only leads to “a second major litigation” over
fees, as cautioned against by the Supreme Court in Fox [ v. Vice, 563 U.S.
826 (2011)4], as well as supplemental fee requests that are routinely
granted by the Court (i.e., “fees for fees”), which negate any purpose of the
objections asserted by respondent.
In her reply brief, petitioner’s counsel noted that “[p]etitioner provided both detailed
fees and costs invoices, as well as undersigned counsel’s Affidavit, and Petitioner’s
Statement Regarding Costs.” In addition, petitioner’s counsel stated, “[r]espondent has
not submitted evidence or persuasive argument in opposition. For these reasons,
Petitioner has demonstrated the reasonableness of her requested fees and case costs.”
Petitioner’s counsel, however, also emphasized that:
Respondent incorrectly claims that it has no part in Petitioner’s request for
compensation under section 15(e) of the Vaccine Act. However,
Respondent has had and does have an important role in responding to
motions for attorneys’ fees and costs in that the Act contemplates attorneys’
fees and costs as “part of [Petitioner’s] compensation. . .” 42 U.S.C. 300aa-
15(e)(1). Moreover, section 20(b) of the Vaccine Act, lays out general
procedures and establishes deadlines for Respondent to respond to
motions filed by Petitioner. 42 U.S.C. 300aa-20(b)(1).[5]
4 Fox v. Vice is a United States Supreme Court decision in a fee shifting case, which,
while cautioning against a “second major litigation” for fees, Fox v. Vice, 563 U.S. at 838,
does not address which entity involved in the litigation does, or does not, have a
responsibility towards resolving the attorneys’ fees and costs request.
5The court notes that there is no Section 20 of the Vaccine Act. Perhaps petitioner’s
counsel may have intended to cite to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–12. That provision of the Vaccine
Act provides, in part:
(a) General rule
The United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Court of
Federal Claims special masters shall, in accordance with this section, have
jurisdiction over proceedings to determine if a petitioner under section
300aa-11 of this title is entitled to compensation under the Program and the
amount of such compensation. The United States Court of Federal Claims
may issue and enforce such orders as the court deems necessary to assure
the prompt payment of any compensation awarded.
3
(internal citation omitted; second bracket in original).
On December 18, 2017, Special Master Moran issued his decision on attorneys’
fees and costs in the above captioned McIntosh case. The Special Master’s very brief
decision stated in full:
After receiving compensation through the Vaccine Program, Etta McIntosh
filed a motion for attorneys' fees and costs. Ms. McIntosh is awarded the full
amount of her request, $16,447.78.
***
Ms. McIntosh alleged that the influenza vaccination caused her to suffer
transverse myelitis. The parties agreed to a stipulation resolving the amount
of compensation. The stipulation was incorporated into a decision awarding
Ms. McIntosh compensation. Decision, issued Aug. 11, 2017, 2017 WL
3910145. With the merits of Ms. McIntosh's case resolved, the parties
addressed attorneys' fees and costs.
(b) Parties
(1) In all proceedings brought by the filing of a petition under section 300aa-
11(b) of this title, the Secretary shall be named as the respondent, shall
participate, and shall be represented in accordance with section 518(a) of
Title 28.
(2) Within 30 days after the Secretary receives service of any petition filed
under section 300aa-11 of this title the Secretary shall publish notice of such
petition in the Federal Register. The special master designated with respect
to such petition under subsection (c) of this section shall afford all interested
persons an opportunity to submit relevant, written information--
(A) relating to the existence of the evidence described in section 300aa-
13(a)(1)(B) of this title, or
(B) relating to any allegation in a petition with respect to the matters
described in section 300aa-11(c)(1)(C)(ii) of this title.
42 U.S.C. § 300aa–12(a)-(b) (2012). Alternatively, petitioner’s counsel may have meant
to refer to Vaccine Rule 20. Vaccine Rule 20 is titled: “Motions and Other Papers; Time
for Filing; Oral Argument,” which, states, in relevant part: “Unless otherwise provided in
these rules or by order of the special master or the court, a response or an objection to a
written motion must be filed within 14 days after service of the motion.” Vaccine Rule
20(b) (2017).
4
Ms. McIntosh filed an attorneys' fees and costs petition on November 29,
2017, requesting $15,139.80 in fees and $1,307.98 in costs. Ms. McIntosh
did not incur any costs personally.
The Secretary filed a response representing that he “is satisfied the
statutory requirements for an award of attorneys' fees and costs are met in
this case.” The Secretary did not raise any specific objections and
recommended that the Special Master “exercise his discretion” when
determining a reasonable award.
Ms. McIntosh reaffirmed her fees request in a reply filed on December 14,
2017. Ms. McIntosh also argued in her reply that the Secretary's position of
not presenting any specific objections and deferring to the Special Master's
discretion was overly burdensome on petitioners and Special Masters.
This matter is now ripe for adjudication.
***
Because Ms. McIntosh received compensation, she is entitled to an award
of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–15(e).
Pursuant to the rationale established in Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health &
Human Servs., No. 12-403V, 2017 WL 5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov.
6, 2017),[6] the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees
6 Swintosky v. Secretary of Health & Human Services was a decision also issued by
Special Master Moran only six weeks before the decision in McIntosh. See Swintosky v.
Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-403V, 2017 WL 5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr.
Nov. 6, 2017). The court notes that Special Master Moran, has used similar language in
other recent fee decisions. See, e.g., Phillips v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-
1118V, 2018 WL 1193701 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 8, 2018); M.D. by Dilascio v. Secʼy
of Health & Human Servs., No. 10-611V, 2018 WL 1095662 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 4,
2018); Van Alst on behalf of J.V. v Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-1180V, 2018
WL 655043 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 4, 2018); Z.I. by Iyaz v. Secʼy of Health & Human
Servs., No. 15-622V, 2018 WL 655041 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 2, 2018); Whaley v.
Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-192V, 2017 WL 6945567 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr.
Dec. 20, 2017); Nizza v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-838V, 2017 WL
6945570 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 18, 2017); Miller v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs.,
No. 16-637V, 2017 WL 6945569 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Worley v. Secʼy of
Health & Human Servs., No. 16-631V, 2017 WL 6945568 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13,
2017); Steck v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-177V, 2017 WL 6945566 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Tavano v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-1206V,
2017 WL 6945564 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Ruth v. Secʼy of Health & Human
Servs., No. 15-855V, 2017 WL 6945563 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Martin on
behalf of A.N.M. v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-715V, 2017 WL 6945562
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Spahn v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 09-
386V, 2017 WL 6945560 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Baumgartner v. Secʼy of
5
requested. Absent any objections, Ms. McIntosh’s request for attorneys’
fees and costs is GRANTED IN FULL:
Health & Human Servs., No. 15-970V, 2017 WL 6820055 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13,
2017); Adams v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 14-231V, 2017 WL 6820054 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Hubbard v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-
1059V, 2017 WL 6816715 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017); Evans v. Secʼy of Health
& Human Servs., No. 16-240V, 2017 WL 6816710 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017);
Jones v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 15-906V, 2017 WL 6816708 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Dec. 13, 2017). In fact, Special Master Moran issued twelve of the above
cited decisions on the same date, December 13, 2017.
In sum, Special Master Moran has cited to his own decision in Swintosky on 20 occasions,
including the above captioned McIntosh case, and each time, with one recent exception,
Special Master Moran states, with only slight variations, that “the undersigned finds that
the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees requested,” and cites to
Swintosky. For example, in M.D. by Dilascio v. Secretary of Health and Human Services,
after determining that although Ms. Dilascio did not receive any compensation, she,
nevertheless, was “eligible for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs,” Special Master
Moran concluded that: “Pursuant to the rationale established in Swintosky, the
undersigned finds that the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees
requested. No. 12–403V, 2017 WL 5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 6, 2017). Absent
any objections, Ms. Dilascio's request for attorneys’ fees and costs is GRANTED IN
FULL. . . .” M.D. by Dilascio v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2018 WL 1095662, at *1
(capitalization in original; footnote omitted). Similarly, in Van Alst on behalf of J.V. v.
Secretary of Health and Human Services, after determining that Ms. Alst was not entitled
to compensation, Special Master Moran concluded that “Ms. Van Alst is eligible for an
award of attorneys’ fees and costs. Pursuant to the rationale established in Swintosky,
the undersigned finds that the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees
requested. No. 12–403V, 2017 WL 5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 6, 2017). Absent
any objections, Ms. Van Alst’s request for attorneys' fees and costs is GRANTED IN
FULL. . . .” Van Alst on behalf of J.V. v Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2018 WL 655043,
at *1 (capitalization in original; footnote omitted).
The sole decision in which Special Moran cites to Swintosky, but offers a somewhat fuller
explanation, is the recent decision in Abbott v. Secretary of Health and Human Services,
No. 10-485V, 2018 WL 2423571 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 3, 2018), which was issued
after Judge Kaplan issued her opinion in Dominguez, in which Judge Kaplan of the United
States Court of Federal Claims criticized Special Master Moran’s waiver theory articulated
in Swintosky and remanded the case back to Special Master Moran. See Dominguez v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. 779 (Fed. Cl. 2018). Judge Kaplan’s
decision in Dominguez is discussed in depth bellow.
6
A lump sum of $16,447.78 in the form of a check made payable to
petitioner and petitioner's attorney, Diana L. Stadelnikas.[7]
These amounts represent reimbursement attorneys' fees and other litigation
costs available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–15(e). In the absence of a motion
for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is
directed to enter judgment herewith.
McIntosh v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2017 WL 6945565, at *1 (capitalization,
asterisks, and emphasis in original; footnotes and internal citations omitted).
On January 16, 2018, respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services, as represented by the United States Department of Justice, filed a
motion for review in this court in the above captioned McIntosh case of Special Master
Moran’s decision on attorneys’ fees and costs. Respondent states:
Respondent’s enumerated objection to the Decision is as follows: The
special master abused his discretion when he failed to make a finding
regarding the reasonableness of petitioner’s application for attorneys’ fees
and costs, and instead simply awarded petitioner “the full amount of his
request” on the sole asserted basis that respondent “has waived any
objections to the amount of fees requested.”
Respondent indicates in the memorandum filed in this court with its motion for review that
the Special Master “failed to fulfill his statutory obligation to make a finding regarding the
reasonableness of petitioner’s application for attorneys’ fees and costs, and instead
simply awarded petitioner ‘the full amount of her request’ on the sole – and erroneous –
basis that respondent ‘has waived any objections to the amount of fees requested.’”
Respondent continues: “The special master’s Decision constitutes an improper
abrogation of his statutory duty and a patent abuse of discretion.” Therefore, respondent
argues that: “The Decision must be reversed, and the matter should be remanded back
to the special master for an appropriate determination regarding the reasonableness of
this specific request for fees and costs.”
Respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, also
argues that “[t]he process for adjudicating fee applications in the Vaccine Program is
broken.” Respondent notes that:
The Decision also raises to a boil a broader conflict that has been simmering
in the Vaccine Program for the past few years. Specifically, the process
used in the past to resolve fee applications is no longer viable given the
7Diana L. Stadelnikas was petitioner’s counsel of record before Special Master Moran
and initially before this court. On March 14, 2018, this court granted petitioner’s motion to
substitute Jennifer Ann Gore Maglio as counsel of record for petitioner.
7
present realities of Vaccine Act practice. The special master points at
respondent for bringing about this failure, but it is the special masters, not
respondent, who wield the authority to control the process, and it is the
special masters who have rejected respondent’s recent attempts to make
that process more streamlined and efficient.
Respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, continues:
To be sure, the special master’s complaint about the onerous nature of
analyzing fee applications is well-taken, as respondent undertook that role
for many years and fully understands how time-consuming it can be. In fact,
given the sheer number of claims now being filed under the Act, it is no
longer possible for either respondent or the special masters to conduct
granular, line-by-line examinations of petitioners’ fee applications. Rather,
a process that incorporates both standardization and flexibility, based on
fundamental fairness to all interested parties, offers the only viable solution.
Respondent stands willing to work with the special masters and petitioners
to develop such a process, and if the special masters were to implement
procedures and guidelines that take respondent’s interests into
consideration, respondent of course would be willing to participate in a way
that this special master might find more meaningful.
Respondent, however, reiterates that despite the broken nature of the system, Special
Master Moran was not permitted to rely on waiver by the government, or to use that
alleged waiver to find petitioner was entitled to all attorneys’ fees and costs requested
without further review by the Special Master to determine whether the attorneys’ fees and
costs were reasonable.
Petitioner’s counsel first responds that “Petitioner must raise the question of
whether Respondent may even seek review of the award of fees and costs below given
Respondent’s failure to object to the motion for fees and costs in the proceedings before
the Special Master.” Petitioner also argues that “[i]n support of her motion for fees,
Petitioner submitted a breadth of evidence, including detailed fees and costs invoices with
supporting documentation, Petitioner’s Statement regarding Fees, counsel’s Affidavit,
and the Affidavit of counsel’s managing partner,” and “[a]fter reviewing the evidence and
pleadings submitted, the Special Master found that ‘[b]ecause Ms. McIntosh received
compensation, she is entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs’ and
awarded Petitioner her requested fees and costs.” Petitioner’s counsel also notes that the
Special Master found that “the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees
requested.” McIntosh v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2017 WL 3915145, at *5.
Petitioner’s counsel further indicated that she was unconvinced of respondent’s
arguments of a broken system, noting:
8
[P]rior to Respondent’s determination to abstain from participating in the
fees process in 2016, most fees awards were resolved by stipulation of the
parties and did not require extensive litigation. Thus, this proclaimed crisis
of fees litigation is one largely of Respondent’s making. Respondent’s
reasons for unilaterally announcing in 2016 that it would no longer play in
the sandbox of fees are not valid justifications for his withdrawal from the
litigative process. Further, having decided to withdraw, Respondent cannot
now complain of the consequences of his decision.
(citations omitted). Finally, petitioner’s counsel notes that:
After complaining about the fees procedures employed by the special
masters and lamenting a crisis of his own making, Respondent suggests in
his brief that this Court mandate a new administrative-style procedure for
fees proceedings. This suggestion is problematic as it invites this Court to
rewrite the Vaccine Act; a task reserved for Congress rather than the courts.
In the reply filed in support of its motion for review, respondent, the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Services, reiterates that the government has not
waived its rights to challenge a fee request by a petitioner’s counsel for attorneys’ fees
and costs. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, as
represented by the Department of Justice, indicates that this court should “reject the
special master’s interpretation of the law,” and argues that “the Decision should be
reversed and remanded for an appropriate determination of a reasonable fee award.”
Respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, also states
that “[p]etitioner appears to misunderstand the basis for respondent’s appeal.
Respondent is not asserting that the special master necessarily erred by awarding fees
and costs that were unreasonable. Rather, the error lay in failing to make any finding at
all regarding the reasonableness of the fees and costs awarded.” (emphasis in original).
Respondent also objects to the finding by Special Master Moran that the respondent
waived its right to challenge a fee request submitted by a petitioner’s counsel.8
Respondent continues: “Otherwise put, it is impossible to discern from the special
master’s decision whether he believes the fees and costs awarded are reasonable, and
8 Although respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services,
argues that it is the Special Master’s responsibility to consider the “Vaccine Act’s fee-
shifting provision,” 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e), that the government has no role to play
during the review of petitioners’ counsel’s requests for attorneys’ fees and costs, and that
a major issue of the Special Master’s decision was the absence of any analysis, the court
notes that, respondent, nonetheless, did participate in petitioner’s counsel’s attorneys’
fees and costs review to a very limited extent when it indicated to Special Master Moran,
albeit without further explanation, that “[t]o the extent the Special Master is treating
petitioner’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs as a motion that requires a response
from respondent, respondent states the following: Respondent is satisfied the statutory
requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case,” (citing 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1)(A)-(B)), perhaps as an attempt to avoid waiver.
9
why, because he expressly declined to engage in any analysis of the fee request.”
Respondent also asserts:
Respondent agrees with petitioner that it is beyond this Court’s authority to
rewrite the Vaccine Act, although respondent submits that the plain
language of Section 15(e) and the Federal Circuit’s opinion in Saxton[, 3
F.3d 1517 (Fed. Cir. 1993)] already endorse his position. Petitioner is also
correct that respondent is hopeful that his arguments will prompt the special
masters to reform the procedures used to resolve fee applications. By
affirming the special master’s independent duty under Section 15(e) to
assess fee applications for reasonableness, the Court will reinforce that the
special masters are stakeholders in the process, and may encourage them
to consider procedures for resolving fee applications that offer respondent
a reason to participate more substantively.
The court held oral argument on respondent’s motion for review of Special Master
Moran’s decision on attorneys’ fees and costs, which was followed by a supplemental
filing at the request of the court by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
DISCUSSION
The motion for review filed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services does not challenge the merits of petitioner’s underlying entitlement to
compensation or challenge the possible validity of any specific amount of attorneys’ fees
or costs sought by petitioner’s counsel. Rather, the motion for review seeks a
determination that the Special Master’s decision to award the full amount of petitioner’s
counsel’s attorneys’ fees and costs without an examination of the reasonableness of the
fees and costs was “a patent abuse of discretion,” and that the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services, as represented by the United States
Department of Justice, has not waived its right to challenge a fee request or a fee award
by a Special Master, even when it abstains from reviewing and specifically responding to
the attorneys’ fees and costs requests submitted by petitioners’ counsel.
When reviewing a Special Master’s decision, the assigned Judge of the United
States Court of Federal Claims shall:
(A) uphold the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the special master
and sustain the special master’s decision,
(B) set aside any findings of fact or conclusions of law of the special master
found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in
accordance with law and issue its own findings of fact and conclusions of
law, or
(C) remand the petition to the special master for further action in accordance
with the court’s direction.
10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e)(2). The legislative history of the Vaccine Act states: “The
conferees have provided for a limited standard for appeal from the [special] master's
decision and do not intend that this procedure be used frequently, but rather in those
cases in which a truly arbitrary decision has been made." H.R. Rep. No. 101-386, at 517
(1989) (Conf. Rep.), reprinted in 1989 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3018, 3120.
Regarding the standard of review, articulated in Markovich v. Secretary of Health
and Human Services, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit wrote,
“[u]nder the Vaccine Act, the Court of Federal Claims reviews the Chief Special Master's
decision to determine if it is ‘arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not
in accordance with the law.’ 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e)(2)(B).” Markovich v. Sec’y of Health
& Human Servs., 477 F.3d 1353, 1355-56 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 816 (2007);
see also Deribeaux ex rel. Deribeaux v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 717 F.3d 1363,
1366 (Fed. Cir.) (The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stated that
“we ‘perform[ ] the same task as the Court of Federal Claims and determine[ ] anew
whether the special master's findings were arbitrary or capricious.’” (quoting Lampe v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 219 F.3d 1357, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2000))) (brackets in
original), reh’g and reh’g en banc denied (Fed. Cir. 2013); W.C. v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., 704 F.3d at 1355; Hibbard v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 698 F.3d
1355, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2012); Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 515 F.3d 1343,
1347 (Fed. Cir.) (“Under the Vaccine Act, we review a decision of the special master
under the same standard as the Court of Federal Claims and determine if it is ‘arbitrary,
capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.’” (quoting 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e)(2)(B))), reh’g and reh’g en banc denied (Fed. Cir. 2008); de Bazan
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 539 F.3d 1347, 1350 (Fed. Cir.), reh’g and reh’g en
banc denied (Fed. Cir. 2008); Althen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 418 F.3d 1274,
1277 (Fed. Cir. 2005); Dodd v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 114 Fed. Cl. 43, 47
(2013); Taylor v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 108 Fed. Cl. 807, 817 (2013). The
arbitrary and capricious standard is “well understood to be the most deferential possible.”
Munn v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 970 F.2d 863, 870 (Fed. Cir. 1992).
Regarding attorneys’ fees and costs, the Vaccine Act at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(e)(1), provides:
(1) In awarding compensation on a petition filed under section 300aa-
11 of this title the special master or court shall also award as part of
such compensation an amount to cover--
(A) reasonable attorneys' fees, and
(B) other costs, incurred in any proceeding on such petition. If the
judgment of the United States Court of Federal Claims on such a
petition does not award compensation, the special master or court
may award an amount of compensation to cover petitioner's
reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs incurred in any
11
proceeding on such petition if the special master or court determines
that the petition was brought in good faith and there was a
reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1); see also Shaw v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 609 F.3d
1372, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2010). “In Vaccine Act cases before this Court contesting a special
master's determination of reasonable attorney's fees, the applicable standard of review is
abuse of discretion.” Scharfenberger v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 124 Fed. Cl.
225, 231 (2015) (citing Hall v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 640 F.3d 1351, 1356
(Fed. Cir. 2011)), appeal dismissed (Fed. Cir. 2016); see also Dominguez v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 782. As indicated by the Federal Circuit in Hall,
“Section 300aa–15(e) states that ‘the special master or court shall also award as part of
such compensation an amount to cover . . . reasonable attorneys' fees.’ Thus, the statute
leaves it to the special master's discretion to find what constitutes reasonable fees.” Hall
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 640 F.3d at 1356.
As noted above, Special Master Moran in his decision on petitioner’s counsel’s
request for attorneys’ fees and costs in the above captioned case, referred to his own
decision in Swintosky v. Secretary of Health & Human Services. See Swintosky v. Sec’y
of Health & Human Servs., 2017 WL 5899239.9 Special Master Moran in his very brief
decision in the above captioned McIntosh case indicated: “Pursuant to the rationale
established in Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-403V, 2017 WL
5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 6, 2017) the Secretary has waived any objections to
the amount of fees requested. Absent any objections, Ms. McIntosh’s request for
attorneys’ fees and costs is GRANTED IN FULL. . . .” (capitalization in original; footnote
omitted). McIntosh v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2017 WL 6945565, at *1. In
Swintosky, as in the above captioned McIntosh case, Special Master Moran stated:
The Secretary filed a response to the Swintoskys’ motion for attorneys’ fees
and costs. The Secretary stated that the statutory prerequisites for an award
of attorneys’ fees and costs have been met in this case, but does not
engage in an analysis of the reasonableness of the award. Without making
any specific objections to the requested fees and costs, the Secretary only
“recommends that the Special Master exercise his discretion and determine
a reasonable award for attorneys' fees and costs.”
Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., 2017 WL 5899239, at *2 (internal citations
omitted). In Swintosky, Special Moran also explained that “[t]he Secretary now states he
fulfills the duty to ‘participate’ by simply deferring to the special master's discretion.
However, the lack of an objection from the Secretary places the special master in an
awkward situation.” Id.
9 As described above, Swintosky has been cited 21 times in fees and costs decisions, 20
times by Special Master Moran, who wrote the Swintosky decision, and once by Judge
Kaplan of the United States Court of Federal Claims in Dominguez v. Secretary of Health
& Human Services, 136 Fed. Cl. 779. The Dominguez case is discussed more fully below.
12
Further in Swintosky, Special Master Moran emphasized:
The Secretary also argues that Vaccine Rule 13 does not mention a role for
the Government in the application for attorneys' fees. This argument misses
the point that a fee application, as a motion, is also governed by Vaccine
Rule 20, which lays out general procedures and establishes deadlines for
responses to motions. Thus, the silence in § 300aa–15(e) or in Vaccine
Rule 13 on the Secretary's role does not excuse the Secretary from meeting
an obligation to present meaningful arguments.
Id. at *4 (internal references omitted).
In Swintosky, Special Master Moran continued “[t]he undersigned acknowledges
that finding the Secretary has waived any objections to attorneys’ fees differs from the
way the undersigned has usually adjudicated fee motions.” He also stated that “[s]everal
factors contribute to the undersigned’s change in the method of analysis. First, the
undersigned is not aware of any Federal Circuit case that requires a judicial officer to
challenge fee applications sua sponte. Further, the undersigned’s decisions are not
binding.” Id. at *5. Special Master Moran also noted in Swintosky that he raised the waiver
issue with the parties at a status conference, and that “the Secretary's decision to refrain
from identifying specific problems in a fee application alters the triangular relationship
among petitioners, the Secretary, and special masters.” Id. Special Master Moran
concluded in Swintosky:
It is one thing for special masters to adjust a fee application when the need
for the special master's sua sponte intervention appears derived, at least in
part, from an accidental oversight. But, the situation is different when the
Secretary intentionally follows a practice of not presenting objections. The
Secretary's deliberate choice not to object to amounts requested in fee
applications combined with the Swintoskys' assertion that the Secretary has
waived any objection prompts the undersigned's change in policy.
Id. at *6 (footnote omitted).
Judge Kaplan of the United States Court of Federal Claims recently was faced with
a nearly identical appeal from an attorneys’ fees and costs decision by Special Master
Moran in Dominguez v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 136 Fed. Cl. 779, as is at
issue in the case currently under review, albeit regarding a fee request for interim fees
and costs. In Dominguez, Special Master Moran likewise had found that:
Pursuant to the rationale established in Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health &
Human Servs., No. 12-403V, 2017 WL 5899239 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov.
6, 2017), the Secretary has waived any objections to the amount of fees
requested. Absent any objections, Mr. Rodriguez’s [sic] request for interim
attorneys’ fees and costs is GRANTED IN FULL. . . .
13
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-378V (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. filed
Dec. 18, 2017) (capitalization in original; footnote omitted). In Dominguez, when
considering respondent’s motion for review, Judge Kaplan noted:
The special master [Special Master Moran] did not take kindly to the
Secretary's pronouncement of deference to the special master's discretion
and the Secretary’s statement of intent not to engage with the specifics of
the fee application. Rather, he opined that the Secretary’s failure to provide
views regarding the reasonableness of the fee request was inconsistent
with the Secretary’s obligation to “participate” in “all proceedings brought by
the filing of a petition.” Id. [Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs.,
2017 WL 5899239, at *2] (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–12(b)(1)).
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 783. Judge Kaplan wrote:
He [Special Master Moran] issued an award of fees and costs without
determining whether the hours claimed were reasonable and without finding
that the requested hourly rate reflected the prevailing market rate in the
relevant community. Doing so appears to be patently at odds with the
explicit language of the Vaccine Act, which provides that “the special
master . . . may award an amount of compensation to cover petitioner's
reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs.” 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–15(e)(1)
(emphasis added). The statute thus cabins the special master's statutory
authority to award compensation for attorneys' fees by requiring that the
fees and costs awarded be reasonable.
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 783. Judge Kaplan in
Dominguez concluded that “[i]n this case, the special master abused his discretion by
awarding Petitioner attorneys’ fees and costs without determining whether the fees and
costs awarded were reasonable.” Id. at 786.
The undersigned agrees with Judge Kaplan’s reasoning on the responsibilities of
the Special Masters. The Vaccine Act plainly requires a Special Master to determine that
the fees and costs requested by a petitioner’s attorney were reasonable before making
an award. The statute twice uses the phrase “reasonable attorneys’ fees” regarding the
obligations of the Special Masters. As described above, the Vaccine Act at 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(e)(1), provides:
(1) In awarding compensation on a petition filed under section 300aa-
11 of this title the special master or court shall also award as part of
such compensation an amount to cover--
(A) reasonable attorneys’ fees, and
(B) other costs, incurred in any proceeding on such petition. If the
judgment of the United States Court of Federal Claims on such a
petition does not award compensation, the special master or court
14
may award an amount of compensation to cover petitioner's
reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in any
proceeding on such petition if the special master or court determines
that the petition was brought in good faith and there was a
reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e)(1) (emphasis added). In Hall v. Secretary of Health & Human
Services, 640 F.3d 1351, the Federal Circuit cited the language from 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(e) regarding reasonable attorneys’ fees to highlight the Special Masters’ discretion.
The appellate court emphasized “Section 300aa–15(e) states that ‘the special master or
court shall also award as part of such compensation an amount to cover . . . reasonable
attorneys’ fees.’ Thus, the statute leaves it to the special master's discretion to find what
constitutes reasonable fees.” Hall v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 640 F.3d at 1356.
Therefore, there can be no doubt that the ultimate decision to award or not to award
attorneys’ fees and costs must be the result of the exercise of discretion by the Special
Master after review of the request to determine reasonableness. The fact that the Special
Master must exercise his or her discretion to determine the reasonableness of attorneys’
fees and costs, however, does not address the responsibilities of the parties to the
litigation. As in Judge Kaplan’s decision in Dominguez, there can be no credible argument
in the McIntosh case that Special Master Moran exercised any discretion at all – he simply
awarded the full amount of costs and fees without any documented review or judgment
as to the reasonableness of the attorneys’ fees and costs, and as a result committed
reversible error.
Similarly, in Dominguez, Judge Kaplan noted that Special Master Moran
made no independent reasonableness determination at all. Instead, he
applied the “waiver” theory that he first articulated in Swintosky, which posits
that if the government fails to lodge objections to the reasonableness of the
fees and costs requested, then it is appropriate to grant the request in full
without conducting any independent review. Swintosky's reasoning,
however, was deeply flawed. In Swintosky, as in the present case
[Dominguez], the Secretary [of the Department of Health and Human
Services] declined to take a position regarding the reasonableness of the
petitioner's fee request in its response to the petitioner's fee application.
[Swintosky v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,] 2017 WL 5899239, at *2.
Instead, as in this case, he [the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services] recommended that the special master exercise his
“discretion [to] determine a reasonable award.” Id. (quotation omitted).
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 783.
Also with reference to Vaccine Rule 20,10 Special Master Moran in Swintosky
indicated that a “fee application, as a motion, is also governed by Vaccine Rule 20, which
10As noted above, Vaccine Rule 20 is titled: “Motions and Other Papers; Time for Filing;
Oral Argument,” and, states, in relevant part: “Unless otherwise provided in these rules
15
lays out general procedures and establishes deadlines for responses to motions. Thus,
the silence in [42 U.S.C.] § 300aa–15(e) or in Vaccine Rule 13[11] on the Secretary's role
does not excuse the Secretary from meeting an obligation to present meaningful
arguments.” Swintosky v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 12-403V, 2017 WL
5899239, at *4. The undersigned notes that Judge Kaplan in Dominguez observed:
Rule 20, however, does not cross-reference Rule 13 or indicate in any way
that it is applicable to fee petitions. Further, even if Rule 20 were somehow
read to impose a requirement that the Secretary lodge specific objections
to attorney fee applications, Rule 20 does not provide that a failure to
respond will result in a default ruling as to an application for an award of
attorneys' fees. And as at least one court has held, the violation of such a
procedural rule cannot serve as sufficient justification for the issuance of an
award of fees and costs without determining their reasonableness, because
such a determination is statutorily mandated.
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 785 (citing Jordan v. Mark
IV Hair Styles, Inc., 806 F.2d 695, 697–98 (6th Cir. 1986)). The undersigned agrees with
Judge Kaplan that there is no support for Special Master Moran’s bald assertion in
Swintosky that if the government does not respond to an attorneys’ fees and costs
request, that such failure would lead to a default judgment.
The undersigned also notes that Special Master Moran’s decision to fully award
petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs without any investigation or
review in the above captioned McIntosh case is even more extreme than Special Master
Moran’s decision in Dominguez, because in Dominguez, Special Master Moran had
considered a previous interim attorneys’ fees and costs request from petitioner’s counsel
and found it generally reasonable.12 Whereas in McIntosh, at no time had Special Master
Moran examined any attorneys’ fees and costs request from petitioner’s counsel and
or by order of the special master or the court, a response or an objection to a written
motion must be filed within 14 days after service of the motion.” Vaccine Rule 20(b).
11 Vaccine Rule 13 is titled: “Attorney’s Fees and Costs,” and, states, in relevant part:
“Any request for attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e) must be
filed no later than 180 days after the entry of judgment or the filing of an order concluding
proceedings under Vaccine Rule 10(d)(3) or 29,” and that “[e]xcept for a request for fees
and costs arising under Vaccine Rule 34(b), the clerk will forward the fee request to the
special master for a decision thereon. The decision of the special master on the fee
request—including a request for interim fees—constitutes a separate decision for
purposes of Vaccine Rules 11, 18, and 23.” See Vaccine Rule 13 (2017).
12After a much more lengthy examination than his examinations in either the most recent
Dominguez decision or in the McIntosh decision, Special Master Moran awarded the
Dominguez petitioner’s counsel $25,817.50 of the $27,681.00 of the interim attorneys’
fees sought and all $3,808.99 of the costs sought. See Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., No. 12-378V, 2017 WL 1316961, at *8 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 6, 2017).
16
determined it to be either reasonable or unreasonable. Rather, as noted above, in
McIntosh, Special Master Moran only referenced the unsupported and flawed Swintosky
decision to comment on respondent’s lack of engagement on the attorneys’ fees and
costs request before awarding petitioner’s counsel the full attorneys’ fees and costs
requested. Without any analysis, Special Master Moran did no more than rubberstamp
petitioner’s counsel’s attorneys’ fees and costs request, noting that the government had
failed to properly engage in the attorneys’ fees and costs process. As such, Special
Master Moran did not meet his statutory responsibilities and he abused his discretion by
failing to independently review the petitioner’s counsel’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
reimbursement of case costs to determine if the requested fees and costs were
reasonable.
The court also highlights that among the Special Masters, Special Master Moran
appears to be atypical in his interpretation that the respondent’s failure to review
attorneys’ fees and costs requests with particularity constitutes waiver of respondent’s
ability to challenge the attorneys’ fees and costs requests and allows him to award all the
attorneys’ fees and costs requested, without review. At oral argument, counsel for
respondent pointed to other decisions issued by other Special Masters who, unlike
Special Master Moran, continue to engage in a comprehensive review of the petitioners’
counsels’ attorneys’ fees and costs requests.
MR. JOHNSON: Actually, I don't believe there is a single other special
master that has adopted this line of reasoning. In fact--
THE COURT: So what are they doing -- what are the other special masters
doing when the department takes its laid-back position?
MR. JOHNSON: I actually printed out four cases this morning that have
been issued this year from four different special masters. There is a case of
J.M., this is 2018 West Law 1514433. This is from the Chief Special Master
Dorsey, and she notes the Respondent's objection of saying we're leaving
it to the special master's discretion. And then she goes through and she
does a detailed analysis of the fee application and makes specific
reductions. There's a case of Goins, and that's 2018 West Law
702104. . . . This is a decision from Special Master Roth, again doing
essentially the same thing, noting Respondent's objection, but then going
through and making reductions based on her review. There is a case of
Blake, 2018 West Law 1125693. This is from Special Master Corcoran,
again, the same thing. And then the case of J.T., 2018 West Law
1559800,[13] and this is from Special Master Millman, again, following the
same approach where she notes the objections.
13The court notes that there is no Westlaw citation at “2018 West Law 1559800,” nor a
case called “J.T.” Special Master Millman did issue a decision with Kimberly S. Thompson
as the petitioner, with the Westlaw citation 2018 WL 1559799, in which she addressed
the petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs, after noting:
17
The undersigned also notes that Special Master Moran was not without recourse
to engage the government in the attorneys’ fees and costs analysis process, although he
made no attempts to do so. For example, the Special Master could have ordered the
government to respond to petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs,
whether that analysis was to be conducted by the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services, or the United States Department of Justice, or both in cooperation.
Failure to respond to a specific order issued by the Special Master would have been in
violation of the court order and Vaccine Rule 20 which states, in relevant part: “Unless
otherwise provided in these rules or by order of the special master or the court, a response
or an objection to a written motion must be filed within 14 days after service of the motion.”
Vaccine Rule 20(b) (emphasis added). For a failure by the respondent to respond to a
court order, the Special Master could have determined the appropriate response.14 The
Special Master also could have strongly urged the parties to meet and confer and report
back to the Special Master regarding efforts to reach an agreement on a possible
settlement of attorneys’ fees and costs. This approach would find support in the
Guidelines for Practice Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,
available on the United States Court of Federal Claims website. The Guidelines has a
dedicated section regarding “Settlements and Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’),”
and notes that “[s]ome special masters encourage settlement discussions between the
parties. . . .” See the Guidelines for Practice Under the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/GUIDELINES-
FOR-PRACTICE-4212016.pdf (last visited June 14, 2018).
After review of the McIntosh case currently before this court, the undersigned
agrees with Judge Kaplan on the assigned, and required, responsibilities of the Special
Master in attorneys’ fees and costs determinations, and further, does not find, as did
Special Master Moran, that the respondent has waived all objections, despite the
Respondent did not raise any specific objections to petitioner’s fee
application in his response to petitioner's Interim Application for Fees and
Costs. Instead, respondent deferred to the undersigned to determine
whether or not petitioner has met the legal standard for an interim fees and
costs award and respectfully recommended that the undersigned exercise
her discretion and determine a reasonable award for attorneys’ fees and
costs.
See Thompson v. Secʼy of Health & Human Servs., No. 16-29V, 2018 WL 1559799, at *1
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 28, 2018).
14 As noted above, however, Judge Kaplan in Dominguez observed, however, that “the
violation of such a procedural rule cannot serve as sufficient justification for the issuance
of an award of fees and costs without [the Special Master] determining their
reasonableness, because such a determination is statutorily mandated.” Dominguez v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 785 (citing Jordan v. Mark IV Hair Styles,
Inc., 806 F.2d at 697–98).
18
government’s minimalist filings submitted to Special Master Moran in the McIntosh case.
The Secretary’s statement, that “Respondent is satisfied the statutory requirements for
an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case,” albeit not sufficient to meet
the government’s responsibilities, as discussed below, may have been an attempt to
avoid full waiver. The undersigned notes, however, as did Judge Kaplan in Dominguez,
that the respondent’s limited response may have waived specific challenges to
petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs. Determination of any specific
waiver, however, is not appropriate at this time, given the court’s decision, as indicated
below, to remand the case to Special Master Moran.15
Despite Special Master Moran’s failures in the above captioned McIntosh case,
the court believes significant fault also lies with the government and its decision to
unilaterally drop out of the litigation process for determining attorneys’ fees and costs in
Vaccine Act cases. The government’s failure to engage in the process for determining
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and, therefore, the inability for the parties to
potentially engage in normal, time and cost saving, litigation settlement techniques, is, in
the undersigned’s view, not only unfortunate, but untenable. It is inappropriate for
government litigators to decide, as a matter of policy, that they will not engage in a
particular part of an ongoing case in which the government is the defending entity in
federal court, even given the more relaxed evidentiary approach applicable in Vaccine
Act cases. Such behavior represents an abrogation of the government’s responsibility to
15 In a footnote, Judge Kaplan’s Dominguez opinion stated:
Of course, the Secretary’s failure to object to any part of the fee application
is not without consequence under the Vaccine Rules. To the contrary, it
results in a waiver of the Secretary's right to press any such objections on
appeal of the attorney fee award. See Vaccine Rule 8(f)(1) (“Any fact or
argument not raised specifically in the record before the special master will
be considered waived and cannot be raised by either party in proceedings
on review of a special master's decision.”); Weddel v. Sec'y of HHS, 23 F.3d
388, 390 n.2 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (noting that Vaccine Rule 8(f) “expressly
forbid[s]” the court from considering arguments not raised before the special
master); McMillan ex rel. McMillan v. Sec'y of HHS, 26 Cl. Ct. 357, 358
(1992) (where government failed to raise any objections to fee petition
before special master and special master found the fee request reasonable
and awarded the same, government waived its right to raise specific
objections to that award in a motion for review, based on Vaccine Rule 8(f)
and on the general rule of waiver resulting from a party's failure to object).
Apparently, the Secretary has determined that waiver of the right to
challenge specific aspects of a special master's fee determination is an
acceptable price to pay for the time saved in responding to fee applications.
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 785 n.4.
19
protect how funds from the Vaccine Trust Fund are applied.16 As documented in
respondent’s April 19, 2018 submission to the court, “[a]mounts in the Trust Fund are
generated primarily through an excise tax on specific vaccines,” and “[t]he Department of
Health and Human Services ‘makes Court-ordered compensation payments’ in
compliance with judgments issued by the Court. Judgments issued by the Court are
forwarded to HHS by personnel within the Department of Justice; HHS then processes
the judgments and submits them to Treasury for payment.” (internal references omitted).
Respondent argues in its submission, “[o]ther than limiting the purposes for which the
Trust Fund may be used, neither the provision in the Internal Revenue Code creating the
Trust Fund, nor the Vaccine Act itself, places any specific responsibility on the
Departments of Treasury, HHS, or DOJ (collectively, ‘the government’) for ‘preserving’
the Trust Fund.” The undersigned, however, believes that the government agencies, in
fact, have responsibilities to ensure that public funds, administered by the government,
such as the Vaccine Trust Fund, which is collected from the citizenry, the constituency
which both the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services
serve, are used only for their intended purposes. A complete refusal or failure by the
government even to review the attorneys’ fees and costs applications submitted by
petitioners’ counsel removes a valuable check against the potential for the award of
undeserved attorneys’ fees and costs.17 Moreover, undue depletion of the Vaccine Trust
Fund possibly leaves diminished funds available to worthy Vaccine Act petitioners
seeking compensation. It also undermines the litigation process for one party to
completely remove itself from part of the proceedings.18 The Department of Justice
16 Judge Kaplan’s decision, however, takes a different position and indicates that the
Vaccine Rules impose “no obligation on the Secretary to respond.” Dominguez v. Sec’y
of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 785. The undersigned observes that the
Vaccine Rules are silent on the obligations of the government with regard to its role in the
vaccine compensation litigation with respect to attorneys’ fees or costs requests, and that
the adversarial responsibilities of petitioner and respondent are not generally defined or
assigned to parties in litigation.
17 The court is in no way is impugning the integrity of the petitioner’s attorneys in McIntosh,
or passing any judgment at this time on the validity of the request for attorneys’ fees and
costs submitted in the above captioned case. As the court observed at the oral argument:
“I understand that your law firm has a good reputation, and that’s not at issue in this
[review of the] case, though it's not the situation in every one of the cases I’ve seen
coming up through the Vaccine Program.”
18The Federal Circuit has noted that “[t]he Vaccine Program is more generous to
petitioners than civil tort actions in some ways, e.g., presumption of causation, less-
adversarial proceedings, and relaxed rules of evidence,” Griglock v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., 687 F.3d 1371, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2012). The National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program decisions are, however, still subject to possible review after a
decision by the Special Masters, initially, in the United States Court of Federal Claims, as
well as possibly in appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
and the United States Supreme Court. Moreover, the Vaccine Rules, discussed above,
20
represents the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in all parts of
a Vaccine Act case, including petitions for entitlement to compensation and petitioners’
counsels’ requests for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The respondent should not
be allowed to unilaterally walk away from the any part of a Vaccine Act case. The Special
Masters should be able to rely on the respondent’s attorneys to assist in evaluating the
reasonableness and validity of each portion of the case, even though the Vaccine Act and
the Vaccine Rules are silent on respondent’s responsibilities in the attorneys’ fees and
costs determination.19
In Dominguez, Judge Kaplan recognized the burden of evaluating attorneys’ fees
and costs applications and made a plea for approving such attorneys’ fees and costs
requests in a more cooperative manner. The undersigned agrees. Judge Kaplan wrote:
In closing, the Court notes that it is not unsympathetic to the toll that
attorneys’ fees litigation takes on the time of the special masters and on the
Vaccine Program, particularly given the right of vaccine petitioners to file
multiple requests for awards of interim attorneys’ fees while their cases are
pending. Even when the opposing party assists a tribunal by drawing
attention to potential defects in a fee application, the adjudication of fee
requests is often tedious and time consuming. The time a special master
spends poring over fee applications is time that he or she cannot spend
deciding requests for compensation by injured petitioners. It would be in all
parties' interests (and in the interest of the Vaccine Program itself) if fee
requests could be resolved by settlement and without the special masters'
intervention. But these considerations, while compelling, obviously cannot
serve as justifications for dispensing with the statutory requirement that
special masters review and make determinations regarding the
reasonableness of fee applications.
Dominguez v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 136 Fed. Cl. at 786.
The undersigned also is aware of the burdens fee requests can place on reviewing
officials, including the Office of Special Masters, the Department of Justice, and the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The undersigned, however,
are an appendix to the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims and the Office
of Special Masters is part of the United States Court of Federal Claims.
19 To the extent that respondent is relying on Saxton v. Secretary of Health & Human
Services, 3 F.3d at 1520, that “[t]he determination of the amount of reasonable attorneys’
fees is within the special master's discretion,” and that the Special Master has “wide
discretion in determining the reasonableness of costs, as well as attorneys’ fees,” citing
Perreira v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 27 Fed. Cl. at 34, and to any other
cases cited in Saxton to the same effect, those statements are correct and
uncontroversial. These two cases do not address the role of respondent in establishing
the reasonableness of attorneys’ fees and costs or the ability of the government to simply
walk away and refuse to engage before a Vaccine Act case is completed.
21
cannot overlook the statutory obligations of the Special Masters, or the assigned financial
oversight and litigation obligations of the respondent, to engage in the review of attorneys’
fees and costs requests to determine their reasonableness. In addition to Judge Kaplan,
the undersigned implores the participants in Vaccine Act cases to reconsider their
positions on engaging in discussions and settlement proceedings to resolve attorneys’
fees and costs requests, which necessarily would require, regardless of the settlement
mechanism developed, some analysis by all parties on the reasonableness of the fees
and costs requests submitted by petitioners’ counsel. The undersigned emphasizes that
finding alternative and creative ways to resolve attorneys’ fees and costs disputes must
be encouraged. Throughout court systems, federal and state, settlements by parties,
including use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, relieve the burdens of all participants
involved in disposition of cases. It is wrong that Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services and the Department of Justice should unilaterally refuse to engage
in the normal litigation process for requests for attorneys’ fees and costs, which generally
involves review by both sides, and possible settlement in the appropriate cases.
Moreover, even as respondent has decided to forgo its obligation to be involved in the fee
dispute process before the Special Masters, respondent, nonetheless, has chosen to
remain involved by filing motions for review in the above captioned McIntosh case, as
well as in Dominguez v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 136 Fed. Cl. 779 and
Spahn v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 2017 WL 6945560. As both Judge
Kaplan in Dominguez, and the undersigned in the above captioned McIntosh case, have
found, although waiver and full award of requested attorneys’ fees and costs without
independent review of the request for attorneys’ fees and costs was not an appropriate
conclusion for Special Master Moran to have drawn when the respondent failed to more
fully engage in the attorneys’ fees and costs process, respondent remains part of the
attorneys’ fees and costs process and should return to respondent’s role of participating
more fully, not only regarding litigation of entitlement, but also regarding resolution of
attorneys’ fees and costs requests.
CONCLUSION
As determined above, Special Master Moran abused his discretion by improperly
failing to independently review the petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and
costs to determine if the attorneys’ fees and costs were reasonable. Therefore, the
respondent’s motion for review is GRANTED IN PART. The court, however, also
concludes that the government inappropriately failed to engage in the review of
petitioner’s counsel’s specific request for attorneys’ fees and costs by unilaterally
declaring it would not participate in the review of petitioners’ counsels’ motions for
attorneys’ fees and costs in all cases, including McIntosh. While the government does not
have a specifically articulated statutory obligation like the Special Masters in Vaccine Act
cases regarding determination of the reasonableness of fees and costs, as an integral
partner in the Vaccine Program litigation, with an obligation to respond to petitioner’s
filings, and given the government’s duty to guard the public dollars, the undersigned
believes attorneys’ fees and costs applications trigger the duty for the government to
respond to requests for payment out of the Vaccine Trust Fund. Therefore, the
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government has failed to meet its responsibilities. It is entirely inappropriate for the United
States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Health and Human
Services to walk away from participating in a statutorily mandated part of the Vaccine
Program which also establishes a fee shifting opportunity in the appropriate Vaccine Act
cases. Regardless of the government’s decision regarding review of attorneys’ fees and
costs requests, however, an attorneys’ fees and costs award should never be a default
decision by the Special Master without review of the request to determine whether the
request is reasonable. The above captioned case is REMANDED to Special Master
Moran for further review of petitioner’s counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs,
consistent with this opinion.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Marian Blank Horn
MARIAN BLANK HORN
Judge
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