VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01345 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01345 Petitioner: Angela Battles Filed: 2023-08-17 Decided: 2025-05-06 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2022-10-06 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 75000 AI-assisted case summary: On August 17, 2023, Angela Battles filed a Vaccine Program petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on October 6, 2022 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. Respondent denied that Ms. Battles sustained a Table SIRVA, denied that the vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that her current condition was a vaccine sequela. The public stipulation decision does not describe symptom onset, examinations, imaging, injections, therapy, or how the injury affected her activities. The parties filed a stipulation on May 5, 2025. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted it on May 6, 2025 and awarded $75,000.00 as a lump sum through counsel's IOLTA account for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. A later October 27, 2025 decision concerned attorneys' fees and costs only. Theory of causation field: Adult petitioner; influenza vaccine October 6, 2022; alleged SIRVA. COMPENSATED by stipulation. Respondent denied Table SIRVA, causation, and sequelae; public merits text lacks clinical chronology. Award $75,000.00 lump sum. SM Gowen May 6, 2025. Petition filed August 17, 2023. Attorney: Daniel Alholm. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01345-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-08-26 Pages: 8 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 5/6/2025) regarding 32 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (ms) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 1 of 8 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: May 6, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANGELA BATTLES, * * Petitioner, * No. 23-1345V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Daniel Alholm, Alholm Law PC, Chicago, IL, for petitioner. Elizabeth Andary, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON STIPULATION1 On August 17, 2023, Angela Battles (“petitioner”), filed a Petition for Compensation in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 See Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of the influenza vaccine she received on October 6, 2022. Id. at Preamble. On May 5, 2025, respondent filed a Stipulation providing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation ¶ 7 (ECF No. 31). Respondent “denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA, as defined in the Table; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties “now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision 1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id. 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. Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 2 of 8 should be entered awarding” compensation according to the terms of the Stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7. The Stipulation provides: 1) A lump sum of $75,000.00 to be paid through and ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id. at ¶ 8. I adopt the parties’ Stipulation attached hereto and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. Accordingly, the Clerk of Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the Stipulation and this Decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master 3 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a). 2 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 3 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 4 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 5 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 6 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 7 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01345-UNJ Document 40 Filed 08/26/25 Page 8 of 8 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01345-cl-extra-11127505 Date issued/filed: 2025-08-26 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10660918 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: May 6, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANGELA BATTLES, * * Petitioner, * No. 23-1345V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Daniel Alholm, Alholm Law PC, Chicago, IL, for petitioner. Elizabeth Andary, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON STIPULATION 1 On August 17, 2023, Angela Battles (“petitioner”), filed a Petition for Compensation in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 See Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of the influenza vaccine she received on October 6, 2022. Id. at Preamble. On May 5, 2025, respondent filed a Stipulation providing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation ¶ 7 (ECF No. 31). Respondent “denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA, as defined in the Table; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties “now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision 1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id. 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. should be entered awarding” compensation according to the terms of the Stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7. The Stipulation provides: 1) A lump sum of $75,000.00 to be paid through and ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id. at ¶ 8. I adopt the parties’ Stipulation attached hereto and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. Accordingly, the Clerk of Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the Stipulation and this Decision. 3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master 3 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a). 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 3: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01345-cl-extra-11228499 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-19 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10761914 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: October 27, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANGELA BATTLES, * * Petitioner, * No. 23-1345V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Daniel Alholm, Alholm Law PC, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner. Elizabeth Andary, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1 On May 8, 2025, Angela Battles, (“Petitioner”) filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Petitioner’s Motion for Attorney Fees (“Fees App.”) (ECF No. 37). For the reasons discussed below, I GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and award a total of $34,073.41. I. Procedural History On August 17, 2023, Angela Battles (“Petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of the influenza vaccine she received on October 6, 2022. Id. at Preamble. On May 5, 2025, the parties filed a stipulation, which I adopted as my decision awarding compensation on May 6, 2025. (ECF No. 32). 1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Decision 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. 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2018) (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. On May 8, 2025, Petitioner filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Fees App. at 1. Petitioner requests compensation in the total amount of $34,073.41, representing $32,712.50 in attorneys’ fees and $1,360.91 in costs. Id. Pursuant to General Order No. 9, Petitioner warrants she has not personally incurred any costs in pursuit of her claim. Fees App. Ex. 4. Respondent reacted to the fees motion on May 13, 2025, 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.38). Petitioner filed a reply on May 14, 2025. 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). Here, because Petitioner was awarded compensation pursuant to a stipulation, she 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 A “reasonable hourly rate” is defined as the rate “prevailing in the community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience and reputation.” Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348 (quoting Blum, 465 U.S. at 896 n.11). In general, this rate is based on “the forum rate for the District of Columbia” rather than “the rate in the geographic area of the practice of Petitioner's attorney.” Rodriguez v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 632 F.3d 1381, 1384 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing Avera, 515 F. 3d at 1349). There is a “limited exception” that provides for attorneys’ fees to be awarded at local hourly rates when “the bulk of the attorney's work is done outside the forum jurisdiction” and “there is a very significant difference” between the local hourly rate and forum hourly rate. Id. This is known as the Davis County exception. Hall v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 640 F.3d 1351, 1353 (2011) (citing Davis Cty. Solid Waste Mgmt. & Energy Recovery Special Serv. Dist. v. U.S. EPA, 169 F.3d 755, 758 (D.C. Cir. 1999)). For cases in which forum rates apply, McCulloch provides a framework for consideration of appropriate ranges for attorneys’ fees based upon the experience of the practicing attorney. McCulloch v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., No 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015) motion for recons. denied, 2015 WL 6181910 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 21, 2015). The Court has since updated the McCulloch rates, and the Attorneys’ Forum 2 Hourly Rate Fee Schedules for 2015-2016 and from 2017-2025, which can be accessed online. Petitioner requests the following hourly rates for the work of her counsel, Mr. Daniel Alholm: $450.00 per hour for work performed in 2023, $475.00 per hour for work performed in 2024, and $500.00 per hour for work performed in 2025. These rates are consistent with what Mr. Alholm has previously been awarded for his Vaccine Program work, 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 has not identified any particular entries as being objectionable. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to final attorneys’ fees of $32,712.50. b. Attorneys’ Costs Like attorneys’ fees, a request for reimbursement of costs must be reasonable. Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (Fed. Cl. 1992). Petitioner requests attorneys’ costs in the amount of $1,360.91. This amount is comprised of acquiring medical records and the Court’s filing fee. See Fees App. Ex. 3. These administrative costs are typical in Vaccine Program cases and were reasonably incurred in this matter. III. Conclusion In accordance with the foregoing, I hereby GRANT Petitioner’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and find that Petitioner is entitled to a reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs as follows: Attorneys’ Fees Requested $32,712.50 (Reduction of Fees) - Total Attorneys’ Fees Awarded $32,712.50 Attorneys’ Costs Requested $1,360.91 (Reduction of Costs) - Total Attorneys’ Costs Awarded $1,360.91 Total Attorneys’ Fees and Costs $34,073.41 Accordingly, I award a lump sum in the amount of $34,073.41 representing reimbursement for Petitioner’s attorneys’ fees and costs, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. 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.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. /s/Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master 3 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a). 4