Schnell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-0748V
(not to be published)
MELISSA SCHNELL,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: April 27, 2022
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU);
HUMAN SERVICES, Attorney’s Fees and Costs
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Wei Kit Tai, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1
On June 23, 2020, Melissa Schnell 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration a defined Table injury, after receiving the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular
pertussis vaccine on July 3, 2019. (Petition at 1). On September 10, 2021, a decision was
issued awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. (ECF
No. 25).
1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 March 14,
2022, (ECF No. 31), requesting a total award of $26,088.07 (representing $25,324.50 in
fees and $763.57 in costs). In accordance with General Order No. 9, counsel for Petitioner
represents that she incurred no out-of-pocket expenses. (Id. at 1). Respondent reacted
to the motion on March 28, 2022, indicating that he is satisfied the statutory requirements
for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case, deferring resolution of the
amount to be awarded at the Court’s discretion. (ECF No. 32). Petitioner filed a reply on
March 30, 2022, requesting the fees and costs be awarded in full. (ECF No. 33).
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 $26,088.07 (representing $25,324.50 in fees and $763.57 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