Valerie Albright v. HHS - other (2026)

Valerie Albright filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This decision addresses her motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $21,439.35, for work performed by her former counsel, Andrew Downing.

The respondent deferred to the special master's determination on the award. The court 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 the fact that Mr.

Downing is no longer counsel. The court applied the lodestar approach to determine reasonable fees and costs, finding the requested hourly rates and hours billed to be reasonable.

The costs requested for medical records and filing fees were also deemed reasonable and supported by documentation. Accordingly, the court awarded the full amount of $21,439.35 in interim attorneys' fees and costs to be paid to Mr.

Downing's IOLTA account.