The United States Court of Federal Claims has awarded Naho Miyachi a total of $54,329.37 in attorney fees and costs related to her claim of injury from a vaccine. This decision affects individuals who seek compensation under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, particularly those who have experienced injuries following vaccinations.
The case, Miyachi v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, was filed under docket number 21-1046V. The ruling was made by Special Master Christian J. Moran on May 29, 2026. The award includes $47,951.00 in attorney fees and $6,378.37 in costs incurred during the litigation process.
Background
Naho Miyachi filed her petition on March 10, 2021, claiming that the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on April 5, 2018, caused her to suffer from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, commonly referred to as SIRVA. The Vaccine Injury Table recognizes this condition as a potential injury from vaccinations.
The case progressed through the court system, and on May 23, 2025, both parties reached a joint stipulation, which the court adopted as its decision on May 27, 2025. Following this, Miyachi filed a motion for final attorney fees and costs on August 11, 2025, requesting a total of $56,420.77, which included both fees and costs related to her case.
The Ruling
The court ruled in favor of Miyachi, awarding her $54,329.37 in total. This amount was determined after the court reviewed the requested fees and costs for reasonableness. The court noted that the Vaccine Act allows for the award of reasonable attorney fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–15(e).
The court stated, "Because petitioner received compensation, she is entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs."
Special Master Moran found that the requested attorney fees were reasonable, especially since the Secretary of Health and Human Services did not object to the award. However, the court did reduce the total fee amount due to some billed hours being associated with clerical tasks, which are not billable under the Vaccine Program.
Impact
This ruling is significant as it reinforces the rights of individuals who suffer vaccine-related injuries to seek compensation for their legal expenses. The decision sets a precedent for how attorney fees and costs are calculated in similar cases under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
The outcome of this case may influence future claims, as it clarifies the standards for what constitutes reasonable fees and costs. It also highlights the importance of providing detailed billing statements that distinguish between billable legal work and non-billable clerical tasks.
What's Next
Details regarding any potential appeals were not available in the court filing. The parties may have the option to expedite the entry of judgment by filing a joint notice renouncing their right to seek review, as per Vaccine Rule 11(a). There is no indication of any related cases pending at this time.