The opinion
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 21-1332V
************************* Chief Special Master Corcoran
MARLENA and *
JEFFREY LLOYD, * Filed: June 9, 2026
as parents and natural guardians of C.L., *
a minor, *
*
Petitioners, *
*
v. *
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND *
HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*************************
Ronald Homer, Conway Homer P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioners.
Alec Saxe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION GRANTING IN PART FINAL
AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 1
On May 6, 2021, Marlena and Jeffrey Lloyd, on behalf of their minor child, C.L., filed this
action seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the
“Vaccine Program”). 2 Petition (ECF No. 1) (“Pet.”) at 1. Petitioners alleged that C.L. developed
transverse myelitis (“TM”) due to the diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis (“DTaP”),
haemophilus influenzae B (“Hib”), inactivated poliovirus (“IPV”), pneumococcal conjugate
(“PCV”), and rotavirus vaccines she received on October 7, 2020. Pet. at 1. A one-day entitlement
hearing was held in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 2025. Based upon my review of the record
1
Under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen (14) days within which to request 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). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public
in its present form. Id.
2
The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 State. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) [hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the
Act”]. Individual section references will be to § 300aa of the Act (but will omit that statutory prefix).
and consideration of the hearing testimony, including expert input, I denied entitlement. Decision,
dated Sep. 29, 2025 (ECF No. 89).
Petitioners have now filed a motion for a final award of fees and costs, for the work of
attorneys at the Conway, Homer, P.C., law firm. Motion, dated Apr. 14, 2026 (ECF No. 93) (“Final
Fees Mot.”). Petitioners request a total of $275,065.25—reflecting $169,869.60 in fees, plus
$105,195.65 in costs. Final Fees Mot. at 1–2. Petitioners did not accrue any personal costs
throughout this matter. Respondent reacted to the fees request on April 24, 2026. See Response,
dated Apr. 24, 2026 (ECF No. 95) (“Resp.”). Respondent is satisfied that the statutory
requirements for an award of fees and costs are met in this case, but defers the calculation of the
amount to be awarded to my discretion. Resp. at 2–4. Petitioners did not file a reply.
For the reasons set forth below, I hereby GRANT IN PART Petitioners’ motion, awarding
fees and costs in the total amount of $274,686.55.
ANALYSIS
I. Petitioner’s Claim had a Reasonable Basis
Although the Vaccine Act only guarantees a fees award to successful petitioners, a special
master may also award fees and costs in an unsuccessful case if: (1) the “petition was brought in
good faith”; and (2) “there was a reasonable basis for the claim for which the petition was brought.”
Section 15(e)(1). I have in prior decisions set forth at length the criteria to be applied when
determining if a claim possessed “reasonable basis” sufficient for a fees award. See, e.g., Sterling
v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 16-551V, 2020 WL 549443, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Jan.
3, 2020). Importantly, establishing reasonable basis does not automatically entitle an unsuccessful
claimant to fees, but is instead a threshold obligation; fees can still thereafter be limited, if
unreasonable, or even denied entirely.
A claim’s reasonable basis must be demonstrated through some objective evidentiary
showing. Cottingham v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 971 F.3d 1337, 1344 (Fed. Cir. 2020)
(citing Simmons v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 875 F.3d 632, 635 (Fed. Cir. 2017)). This
objective inquiry is focused on the claim—counsel’s conduct is irrelevant (although it may
bulwark good faith). Simmons, 875 F.3d at 635. In addition, reasonable basis inquiries are not
static—they evaluate not only what was known at the time the petition was filed, but also take
into account what is learned about the evidentiary support for the claim as the matter progresses.
Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 33 F.3d 1375, 1377 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (upholding the
finding that a reasonable basis for petitioners’ claims ceased to exist once they had reviewed their
expert's opinion, which consisted entirely of unsupported speculation). As a result, a claim can
“lose” reasonable basis over time.
2
The standard for finding the existence of reasonable basis is lesser (and thus inherently
easier to satisfy) than the preponderant standard applied when assessing entitlement, as cases
that fail can still have sufficient objective grounding for a fees award. Braun v. Sec’y of Health
& Hum. Servs., 144 Fed. Cl. 72, 77 (2019). The Court of Federal Claims has affirmed that
“[r]easonable basis is a standard that petitioners, at least generally, meet by submitting
evidence.” Chuisano v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 116 Fed. Cl. 276, 287 (Fed. Cl. 2014)
(internal quotations omitted) (affirming special master). The factual basis and medical support
for the claim is among the evidence that should be considered. Carter v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., 132 Fed. Cl. 372, 378 (Fed. Cl. 2017). Under the Vaccine Act, special masters have
“maximum discretion” in applying the reasonable basis standard. See, e.g., Silva v. Sec’y of
Health & Hum. Servs., 108 Fed. Cl. 401, 401–02 (Fed. Cl. 2012).
Although Petitioners’ claim was ultimately unsuccessful, I find that there was more than a
sufficient objective basis to entitle them to a fees and costs award. The record established that
C.L. experienced a variety of symptoms after the relevant covered vaccines, and Petitioners
proposed a viable causation theory as well. In addition, TM is an oft-litigated vaccine adverse
event. Thus, a final award of fees and costs in this matter is permissible, and there are no other
grounds for denying fees in this case.
II. Calculation of Fees
Only “reasonable” fees or costs may be awarded in the Program. Determining the
appropriate amount of the fees award is a two-part process. The first part involves application of
the lodestar method—“multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation
times a reasonable hourly rate.” Avera v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs, 515 F.3d 1343, 1347–48
(Fed. Cir. 2008) (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888 (1984)). The second part involves
adjusting the lodestar calculation up or down to take relevant factors into consideration. Id. at
1348. This standard for calculating a fee award is considered applicable in most cases where a fee
award is authorized by federal statute. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 429–37 (1983).
An attorney’s reasonable hourly rate is determined by the “forum rule,” which bases the
proper hourly rate to be awarded on the forum in which the relevant court sits (Washington, D.C.,
for Vaccine Act cases), except where an attorney’s work was not performed in the forum and there
is a substantial difference in rates (the so-called “Davis” exception). Avera, 515 F.3d at 1348
(citing Davis Cty. Solid Waste Mgmt. & Energy Recovery Special Serv. Dist. v. U.S. Envtl. Prot.
Agency, 169 F.3d 755, 758 (D.C. Cir. 1999)). A 2015 decision established the hourly rate ranges
for attorneys with different levels of experience who are entitled to the forum rate in the Vaccine
Program. See McCulloch v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 09-293V, 2015 WL 5634323, at
*19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Sept. 1, 2015).
3
Petitioner requests the following rates for her various attorneys, based on the years work
was performed:
Conway, Homer, P.C.
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Meredith $350.00 $410.00 $455.00 $485.00 $516.00 $557.00
Daniels
(Attorney)
Ronald $447.00 $475.00 $500.00 $525.00 $567.00 $612.00
Homer
(Attorney)
Christina N/A $425.00 N/A N/A $537.00 $580.00
Ciampolilo
(Attorney)
Nathaniel $230.00 N/A $320.00 $360.00 $390.00 N/A
Enos
(Attorney)
Joseph N/A N/A $455.00 N/A $516.00 N/A
Pepper
(Attorney)
Patrick N/A $250.00 $305.00 $345.00 $380.00 N/A
Kelly
(Attorney)
Paralegals $155.00 $170.00 $185.00 $195.00 $207.00 $223.00
Law Clerks N/A N/A N/A $200.00 N/A N/A
ECF No. 93 at 54.
The attorneys at Conway, Homer, P.C. practice in Boston, MA—a jurisdiction that has
been deemed “in forum.” Accordingly, they should be paid at forum rates, as established in
McCulloch. See Lozano v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 15-396V, 2020 WL 7869439, at *3
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 30, 2020). The rates requested are consistent with what has previously
been awarded for the work of these attorneys, in accordance with the Office of Special Masters’
fee schedule, and I shall grant them herein. 3 See Ross v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 22-
3
OSM Attorneys’ Forum Hourly Rate Fee Schedules, https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/osm-attorneys-forum-hourly-
rate-fee-schedules (last visited on Apr. 21, 2026).
4
136V, slip op. at 4–5 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 6, 2026); Guzman v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 22-957V, 2025 WL 1891419, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 9, 2025); Jackman v.
Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 21-685V, 2025 WL 2659100 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 13,
2025). And the time spent on this matter was reasonable as well.
III. Calculation of Costs
Just as they are required to establish the reasonableness of requested fees, petitioners must
also demonstrate that requested litigation costs are reasonable. Presault v. United States, 52 Fed.
Cl. 667, 670 (2002); Perreira v. Sec’y of Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., 27 Fed. Cl. 29, 34 (1992).
Reasonable costs include the costs of obtaining medical records and expert time incurred while
working on a case. Fester v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No.10-243V, 2013 WL 5367670, at
*16 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 27, 2013). When petitioners fail to substantiate a cost item, such as
by not providing appropriate documentation to explain the basis for a particular cost, special masters
have refrained from paying the cost at issue. See, e.g., Gardner-Cook v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 99-480V, 2005 WL 6122520, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. June 30, 2005).
Petitioner seeks $105,195.65 in outstanding costs, including the filing fee, medical record
retrieval costs, mailing costs, travel costs, and costs associated with expert Daniel Bonthius, M.D.
Final Fees Mot. at 85. Documentation was provided for the Court's filing fee, medical records
requests, copying expenses, travel costs, and mailing expenses, thus I grant these costs in full. I
discuss the remaining expenses below.
A. Petitioner’s General Litigation and Trial Costs
Petitioner’s counsel requested reimbursement for certain overhead expenses, such as office
equipment. ECF No. 93 at 51–53. But these are non-compensable in the Vaccine Program. See
Rodriguez v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 06-559V, 2009 WL 2568468, at *23 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. July 27, 2009). And costs specifically associated with purchasing journals is not
compensable either. See id. (finding that a National Law Journal Subscription was an overhead
expense and not compensable). Therefore, I deny the costs of the medical journal and flash drives,
which results in a reduction of $378.70. 4
B. Petitioner’s Expert Costs
Dr. Bonthius is a board-certified pediatric neurologist, with a Ph.D. in neuroscience.
Curriculum Vitae, dated May 31, 2023, filed as Ex. 15 (ECF No. 40-2). He has worked for close
to thirty years as a professor, and he continues to practice and serve as the Chief of the Division
of Child Neurology at Levine Children's Hospital in North Carolina. Id. at 3. Dr. Bonthius has
participated as an expert in the Program a handful of times in the past few years. Based on his
4
See Cost ID 1031097; 1031138; 1127982–87; 1128348. ECF No. 93 at 51–53.
5
experience, Dr. Bonthius is requesting reimbursement of $90,900.00 for 86.75 hours of work at a
rate of $600.00 per hour. ECF No. 93 at 52–53, 85–86, 89–90, 141–42. Dr. Bonthius submitted
three expert reports in this matter and testified at the hearing. See id. Dr. Bonthius did reduce his
time by half for the hours he spent traveling to the hearing. See id. at 141–42.
The hourly rate requested for Dr. Bonthius is a bit high, despite his overall demonstrated
expertise. Only recently did I grant a $600.00 per hour rate for an expert—an individual who has
participated in the Program for years. Nguyen v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 22-765, slip
op. at 7 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 26, 2026). However, Dr. Bonthius has been awarded the
requested hourly rate previously by another special master. Maynard v. Sec'y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 20-768V, 2023 WL 7332805, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 4, 2023). And the
Vaccine Program must not permanently condemn experts to consistently lower rates than they
could command in other fora, and take into account the need for increases (commensurate with the
increases they allow attorneys). Thus, I will adopt the $600.00 rate, and I make no other revisions
to his time spent on this matter.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, and in the exercise of the discretion afforded to me in determining
the propriety of an interim fees award, I GRANT IN PART Petitioner’s Motion for an Award of
Attorney’s Fees and Costs. I award a total of $274,686.55 (reflecting $169,869.60 in fees, and
$104,816.95 in costs) to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioners’ counsel’s IOLTA
account for prompt disbursement. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC
Appendix B, the Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms
of this Decision. 5
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
5
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment if (jointly or separately) they file notices
renouncing their right to seek review.
6