            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                      OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 13-950V
                                          Filed: April 4, 2014
                                         (Not to be published)

***********************************************
MERLE KAPLAN,                                 *
                                              *
                       Petitioner,            *  Stipulation; Attorney Fees and Costs
        v.                                    *
                                              *
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT *
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
                                              *
                       Respondent.            *
***********************************************
Edward M. Kraus, Esq., Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL for petitioner.
Tara J. Kilfoyle, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C. for respondent.

                        DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS1

Gowen, Special Master:

       In this case under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 I issued
a Ruling on Entitlement on March 5, 2014, and a Decision awarding damages pursuant
to respondent’s proffer on March 27, 2014. On April 4, 2014, the parties filed a
stipulation for attorney fees and costs. The stipulation indicates that respondent does
not object to the amended amount of $10,303.71 that petitioner is requesting.
Additionally, pursuant to General Order #9, the stipulation notes that petitioner incurred
no personal litigation costs.

      I find that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a
reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems


1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete 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
delete such material from public access.
2
 The applicable statutory provisions defining the program are found at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq.
(2006).
reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, I hereby award the total $10,303.713 in
the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel of
record, Edward Kraus, for petitioner’s attorney fees and costs.

        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” as well as fees for legal services rendered.
Furthermore, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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, HHS, 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.
See Vaccine Rule 11(a).



                                                     2
