Halim Husain v. HHS - Td/Tetanus, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (2025)

Halim Husain filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 6, 2022, alleging a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) from a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine received on October 5, 2020. The petitioner later amended the petition on August 3, 2023.

This decision addresses the petitioner's motion for interim attorney's fees and costs, totaling $41,057.31, filed on December 19, 2024. Respondent deferred to the court's discretion regarding the award.

The court found an interim award appropriate due to counsel's withdrawal and the absence of reasonable basis issues. After reviewing the billing records, the court made minor reductions for an attorney's hourly rate in 2022 and for tasks billed at an attorney's rate that should have been billed at a paralegal rate.

The requested costs were found reasonable and awarded in full. The petitioner was awarded a total of $40,121.31 in attorney's fees and costs.