        In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-1376V
                                    Filed: October 13, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED
*********************************
NAOMI YANAGAWA,                                   *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *
v.                                                *
                                                  *       Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                         Respondent.              *
                                                  *
****************************
Leah Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Darryl Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.


                      DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On November 13, 2015, petitioner 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 alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome
(“GBS”) following a November 16, 2012 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. On June 28, 2016,
the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to petitioner based on the
parties’ joint stipulation. (ECF No. 25).

       On May 3, 2016, petitioner filed an unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs. (ECF No. 21). On September 16, 2016, the undersigned issued a reasoned

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.
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).
decision in DiPietro v. HHS, 15-742V, setting forth an hourly rate for petitioner’s
counsel, and petitioner was ordered to file an amended motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs including billing records reflecting that hourly rate. (ECF No. 30). Petitioner filed
an amended unopposed motion for attorneys’ fees and costs on October 10, 2016.
(ECF No. 31).3 Petitioner requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $17,927.00 and
attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,368.39 for a total amount of $19,295.39. Id. at 1.
In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner’s counsel represents that petitioner
incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
§ 15(e). Based on the reasonableness of petitioner’s request and the lack of opposition
from respondent, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and
costs.

      Accordingly, the undersigned awards the total of $19,295.394 as a lump
sum in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and petitioner’s counsel
Leah V. Durant.

          The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                             s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                             Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                             Chief Special Master




3
    In the motion, petitioner states that respondent has no objection to petitioner’s request.
4
 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, § 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).

5
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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