Lukas Bundonis v. HHS - Hepatitis B, autoimmune encephalitis (2025)

Lukas Bundonis filed a petition for compensation on July 11, 2018, alleging that he suffered autoimmune encephalitis as a result of receiving Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations on October 13, 2014. The case has been pending for over six years, with extensive filings of medical records and expert reports from both parties.

This decision addresses a motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs filed by Petitioner on March 22, 2024. The Special Master found that the petition was brought in good faith with a reasonable basis, and that an interim award was justified due to the protracted nature of the proceedings and accumulated fees.

The court awarded $71,536.99 in attorneys' fees after a ten percent reduction for administrative tasks and excessive interoffice communication. Costs were awarded in the amount of $72,741.33, including expert fees for Dr.

Kelkar, Dr. Gershwin, Dr.

Willer, and Dr. Marks, with a slight adjustment to Dr.

Marks' hourly rate. The total award for interim attorneys' fees and costs is $144,278.32, payable jointly to Petitioner and his counsel.