VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035 Petitioner: Dimitra Charisi Filed: 2024-07-08 Decided: 2025-04-11 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2021-09-22 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 105186.83 AI-assisted case summary: On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on September 22, 2021 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. Respondent conceded entitlement on February 3, 2025, stating that Ms. Charisi's injury was consistent with SIRVA under the Vaccine Injury Table and that she suffered residual effects for more than six months. Chief Special Master Corcoran granted entitlement on February 14, 2025. The public text does not describe the first symptom, clinical visits, imaging, injections, therapy, or functional limitations. Damages were resolved by proffer. On April 11, 2025, the Chief Special Master awarded $105,186.83 as a lump sum through counsel, consisting of $105,000.00 for pain and suffering and $186.83 for past unreimbursable expenses. A later fee decision was separate from the injury award. Theory of causation field: Adult petitioner; influenza vaccine September 22, 2021; Table SIRVA. COMPENSATED. Respondent conceded Table SIRVA and residual effects over six months; public text lacks detailed clinical chronology. Entitlement February 14, 2025; damages April 11, 2025. Award $105,186.83 = $105,000.00 pain/suffering + $186.83 expenses. Petition filed July 8, 2024. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-03-17 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 02/14/2025) regarding 18 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 22 Filed 03/17/25 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1035V DIMITRA CHARISI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: February 14, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Timothy William O’Hara, Marvin Firestone MD, JD & Associates, LLP, San Mateo, CA, for Petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi 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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on September 22, 2001. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On February 3, 2025, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1 Because this Ruling 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 Ruling 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 22 Filed 03/17/25 Page 2 of 2 1. Specifically, Respondent “has concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “based on the medical records . . . [P]etitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months.” Id. at 5-6. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035-cl-extra-10823765 Date issued/filed: 2025-03-17 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10357177 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1035V DIMITRA CHARISI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: February 14, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Timothy William O’Hara, Marvin Firestone MD, JD & Associates, LLP, San Mateo, CA, for Petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi 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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on September 22, 2001. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On February 3, 2025, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1 Because this Ruling 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 Ruling 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). 1. Specifically, Respondent “has concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “based on the medical records . . . [P]etitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months.” Id. at 5-6. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 3: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035-1 Date issued/filed: 2025-05-22 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/11/2025) regarding 25 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 28 Filed 05/22/25 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1035V DIMITRA CHARISI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 11, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Timothy William O’Hara, Marvin Firestone, JD & Associates, LLP, San Mateo, CA, for Petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi 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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on September 22, 2021. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On February 7, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On March 26, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $105,186.83, consisting of $105,000.00 in pain and suffering and $186.83 in past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 28 Filed 05/22/25 Page 2 of 5 with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $105,186.83 (consisting of $105,000.00 in pain and suffering and $186.83 in past unreimbursable expenses), to be paid through an 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 Section 15(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 3 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. 2 Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 28 Filed 05/22/25 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS DIMITRA CHARISI, Petitioner, v. No. 24-1035V Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3, as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on September 22, 2021. Petition at 1. On February 3, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending that compensation be awarded for a SIRVA, and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation on February 14, 2025. ECF No. 17; ECF No. 18. I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $105,000.00 in actual pain and suffering. Petitioner agrees. Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 28 Filed 05/22/25 Page 4 of 5 B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $186.83. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees. These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. II. Form of the Award Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $105,186.83, representing compensation for pain and suffering ($105,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses ($186.83), to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Dimitra Charisi: $105,186.83 Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division 1 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 Case 1:24-vv-01035-UNJ Document 28 Filed 05/22/25 Page 5 of 5 HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Sarah C. Duncan SARAH C. DUNCAN Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 514-9729 Email: sarah.c.duncan@usdoj.gov DATED: March 26, 2025 3 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 4: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035-cl-extra-11056566 Date issued/filed: 2025-05-22 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10589978 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1035V DIMITRA CHARISI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 11, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Timothy William O’Hara, Marvin Firestone, JD & Associates, LLP, San Mateo, CA, for Petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi 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 alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on September 22, 2021. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On February 7, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On March 26, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $105,186.83, consisting of $105,000.00 in pain and suffering and $186.83 in past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $105,186.83 (consisting of $105,000.00 in pain and suffering and $186.83 in past unreimbursable expenses), to be paid through an 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 Section 15(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 3 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. 2 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS DIMITRA CHARISI, Petitioner, v. No. 24-1035V Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3, as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on September 22, 2021. Petition at 1. On February 3, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending that compensation be awarded for a SIRVA, and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation on February 14, 2025. ECF No. 17; ECF No. 18. I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $105,000.00 in actual pain and suffering. Petitioner agrees. B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $186.83. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees. These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. II. Form of the Award Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $105,186.83, representing compensation for pain and suffering ($105,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses ($186.83), to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Dimitra Charisi: $105,186.83 Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division 1 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Sarah C. Duncan SARAH C. DUNCAN Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 514-9729 Email: sarah.c.duncan@usdoj.gov DATED: March 26, 2025 3 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 5: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01035-cl-extra-11237670 Date issued/filed: 2026-01-08 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10771085 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1035V DIMITRA CHARISI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: December 8, 2025 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Timothy William O’Hara, Marvin Firestone, MD, JD, and Associates, San Mateo, CA, for Petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION ON ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1 On July 8, 2024, Dimitra Charisi 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration following an influenza vaccine she received on September 22, 2021. Petition, ECF No. 1. On February 14, 2025, I issued a ruling on entitlement finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 18. On April 11, 2025, I issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner based on the Respondent’s proffer. ECF No. 25. 1Because 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). Petitioner has now filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs, requesting an award of $39,003.46 (representing $37,667.01 in fees plus $1,336.45 in costs). Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Motion”) filed October 6, 2025, ECF No. 29. Furthermore, Petitioner filed a signed statement representing that no personal out-of-pocket expenses were incurred. ECF No. 29 at 52. Respondent reacted to the motion on October 14, 2025, indicating that he is satisfied the statutory requirements for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs are met in this case but deferring resolution of the amount to be awarded to my discretion. Motion at 2-3, ECF No. 30. Petitioner filed no reply thereafter. I have reviewed the billing records submitted with Petitioner’s request and find a reduction in the amount of fees to be awarded appropriate, for the reasons listed below. ANALYSIS The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to successful claimants. Section 15(e). Counsel must submit fee requests that include contemporaneous and specific billing records indicating the service performed, the number of hours expended on the service, and the name of the person performing the service. See Savin v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 85 Fed. Cl. 313, 316-18 (2008). Counsel should not include in their fee requests hours that are “excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Saxton v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 3 F.3d 1517, 1521 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983)). It is “well within the special master’s discretion to reduce the hours to a number that, in [her] experience and judgment, [is] reasonable for the work done.” Id. at 1522. Furthermore, the special master may reduce a fee request sua sponte, apart from objections raised by respondent and without providing a petitioner notice and opportunity to respond. See Sabella v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl. 201, 209 (2009). A special master need not engage in a line-by-line analysis of petitioner’s fee application when reducing fees. Broekelschen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 102 Fed. Cl. 719, 729 (2011). The petitioner “bears the burden of establishing the hours expended, the rates charged, and the expenses incurred.” Wasson v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 24 Cl. Ct. 482, 484 (1991). The Petitioner “should present adequate proof [of the attorney’s fees and costs sought] at the time of the submission.” Wasson, 24 Cl. Ct. at 484 n.1. Petitioner’s counsel “should make a good faith effort to exclude from a fee request hours that are excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary, just as a lawyer in private 2 practice ethically is obligated to exclude such hours from his fee submission.” Hensley, 461 U.S. at 434. ATTORNEY FEES The attorney rates requested for work performed through 2024 are reasonable and consistent with our prior determinations and will therefore be awarded herein. Petitioner has requested the hourly rate of $560.00 for 2025 work performed by attorney Timothy O’Hara, representing a rate increase of $30.00 from the previous year. I find the proposed rate to be reasonable and hereby award it herein. However, regarding paralegal work, Petitioner requests an hourly rate of $225.00 for paralegal work performed by Pat Barrick in 2023 and an hourly rate of $250.00 for paralegal work performed by Pat Barrick in 2025. These rates exceed the Vaccine Program’s published hourly range for paralegals for 2023 and 2025, and require adjustment. 3 I will therefore compensate Pat Barrick’s paralegal work performed in 2023 at the rate of $186.00 per hour and work performed in 2025 at the rate of $212.00 per hour. These rates are consistent with the Vaccine Program’s published ranges for paralegals for those years and reflect the highest rates in the ranges. This reduces the amount of fees to be awarded by $473.00. 4 In addition, a few of the tasks performed by attorney Timothy O’Hara in this matter are more properly billed using a paralegal rate. 5 “Tasks that can be completed by a paralegal or a legal assistant should not be billed at an attorney’s rate.” Riggins v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 99-382V, 2009 WL 3319818, at *21 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 15, 2009). “[T]he rate at which such work is compensated turns not on who ultimately performed the task but instead turns on the nature of the task performed.” Doe/11 v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. XX-XXXXV, 2010 WL 529425, at *9 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan. 29, 2010). Although these billing entries reflect reasonably performed 3 The OSM Attorneys’ Forum Hourly Rate Schedules are available on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims website at https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/osm-attorneys-forum-hourly-rate-fee-schedules 4 This amount is calculated as follows: ($225.00 - $186.00 = $39.00 x 9.40 hrs) + ($250.00 - $212.00 = $38.00 x 2.80 hrs.) = $473.00. 5 Entries considered paralegal in nature include drafting requests for medical records, following up on medical records requests and drafting basic documents such as an exhibit list, PAR questionnaire, notice of filing, notice of intent, statement of completion, cover sheet, joint notice not to seek review. See billing entries dated: 7/16/2024 (2 entries), 1/27/2025, 3/7/2025, 5/16/2025. ECF No. 29 at 45-50. 3 tasks, they must be charged at a reduced rate comparable to that of a paralegal. Application of the foregoing reduces the amount of fees to be awarded by $630.30. 6 ATTORNEY COSTS Petitioner has provided supporting documentation for all claimed costs. ECF No. 29 at 22-35. Respondent offered no specific objection to the rates or amounts sought. I find the requested costs reasonable, and they shall be awarded in full. CONCLUSION The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successful claimants. Section 15(e). Accordingly, I hereby GRANT, in part, Petitioner’s Motion for attorney’s fees and costs. Petitioner is awarded attorneys’ fees and costs in the total amount of $37,900.16 (representing $36,563.71 in fees plus $1,336.45 in costs) to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. In the absence of a timely-filed motion for review (see Appendix B to the Rules of the Court), the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 6 This amount is calculated as follows: ($530.00 - $197.00 = $333.00 x 0.90 hrs.) + ($560.00 - $212.00 = $348.00 x .95 hrs.) = $630.30. 7 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review. 4