Squadroni v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: March 31, 2020
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JOHN SQUADRONI, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * No. 16-1102V
* Special Master Gowen
v. *
* Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Howard S. Gold, Gold Law Firm, LLC, Wellesley Hills, MA, for Petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1
On December 3, 2019, John Squadroni (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. Petitioner’s Motion for Attorney Fees (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 45). For the reasons
discussed below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and awards a total of
$39,164.30.
I. Procedural History
On September 2, 2016, Petitioner filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that he suffered from “back pain, lumbar pain,
shoulder pain and sacral pain” as a result of receiving the Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccination on March 14, 2014. Petition at ¶1 (ECF No. 1). On November 7, 2019, I issued my
1
I intend 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this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).
2
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (“Vaccine
Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
Entitlement Decision, dismissing the petition for insufficient proof. (ECF No. 44).
On December 3, 2019, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner
requests compensation for his attorney, Mr. Howard Gold, in the total amount of $39,164.30,
representing $27,580.25 in attorneys’ fees and $11,584.05 in costs. Fees App. at 8-9. Pursuant to
General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants he has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of his
claim. Id. at 2. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on December 4, 2019, stating that
“Respondent is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are
met in this case.” Response at 2 (ECF No. 46). Petitioner did not file a reply thereafter.
The matter is now ripe for adjudication.
II. Analysis
Under the Vaccine Act, the special master may award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
for a petition that does not result in an award of compensation but was filed in good faith and
supported by a reasonable basis. § 300aa–15(e)(1). In this case, I find no cause to doubt the good
faith or reasonable basis of bringing this claim and respondent has not objected to the good faith
or reasonable basis of the claim either. Accordingly, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award
of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
Petitioners “bea[r] the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and
the expenses incurred” are reasonable. Wasson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482,
484 (1993). Adequate proof of the claimed fees and costs should be presented when the motion is
filed. Id. at 484 n. 1. The special master has the discretion to reduce awards sua sponte, independent
of enumerated objections from the respondent. Sabella v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed.
Cl. 201, 208–09 (Fed. Cl. 2009); Savin v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313 (Fed.
Cl. 2008), aff'd No. 99–537V, 2008 WL 2066611 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 22, 2008).
a. Attorneys’ Fees
Petitioner requests that his counsel, Mr. Howard Gold, be compensated at the following
rates: $370.00 per hour for work performed in 2016, $380.00 per hour for work performed in 2017,
$390.00 per hour for work performed in 2018, and $400.00 per hour for work performed in 2019.
These rates are consistent with what Mr. Gold has previously been awarded for his work in the
Vaccine Program, and I find them to be reasonable herein.
Turning next to review of the submitted billing statement, I find that the overall hours spent
on this matter appear to be reasonable. The entries are reasonable and accurately describe the work
being performed and the length of time it took to perform each task. Respondent also has not
identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final
attorneys’ fees of $27,580.25.
b. Attorneys’ Costs
Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v.
2
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests total
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $11,584.05. Fees App. at 9. This amount is comprised of
acquiring medical records, the Court’s filing fee, airfare for counsel to meet with Petitioner, and
the work of Petitioner’s two experts, Drs. M. Eric Gershwin and Raymond Singer. Petitioner has
provided adequate documentation supporting all of his requested costs, and all appear reasonable
in my experience. The amount expended on expert work appears reasonable in light of the work
performed in the instant case. Petitioner is therefore entitled to the full amount of costs sought.
III. Conclusion
In accordance with the foregoing, Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is
GRANTED. I find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as
follows:
Attorneys’ Fees Requested $27,580.25
(Reduction of Fees) -
Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $27,580.25
Attorneys’ Costs Requested $11,584.05
(Reduction of Costs) -
Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $11,584.05
Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs $39,164.30
Accordingly, I award a lump sum in the amount of $39,164.30, representing
reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner and his attorney, Mr. Howard Gold.3
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/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3
This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award encompasses all charges by
the attorney against a client, “advanced costs,” and fees for legal services rendered. Furthermore, Section 15(e)(3)
prevents an attorney from charging or collecting fees (including costs) that would be in addition to the amount awarded
herein. See generally Beck v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
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).
3