(United States Federal Circuit) - Appeal to determine meaning of special factor in 28 USC 2412(d)(2)(A), Equal Access to Justice Act. When special factor is found the statutory attorney fee rate is increased. The Claims Court found special factor existed in a tender protest claim where the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was stated to have acted arbitrarily and awarded plaintiff attorney fees increased by special factor. The Federal Court of Appeals held that the Claims Court erred and there was no special factor. Egregious misconduct by the HHS does not constitute a special factor.
Source: findlaw.com