Cook v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 13-309V Filed: September 10, 2014 Not for Publication

************************************* JAMES GORDON COOK, * * Petitioner, * * Damages decision based on v. * stipulation; influenza (flu) vaccine; * Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * fees and costs decision based on AND HUMAN SERVICES, * stipulation * Respondent. * * ************************************* Diana Stadelnikas Sedar, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Ann D. Martin, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS 1 On September 9, 2014, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that he suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of his receipt of influenza (“flu”) vaccine on December 11, 2011. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Respondent denies that petitioner’s GBS or any other injury was caused by his flu vaccination. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.

Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.

The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable, hereby adopts the parties’ stipulation, and awards compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein.

Pursuant to the attached stipulation, the undersigned awards $120,000.00 for reimbursement for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) (2006).

The parties have also agreed on an appropriate amount for attorneys’ fees and costs in this case. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner asserts that he did not incur out-of- pocket expenses in pursuit of his petition. Petitioner requests $15,675.12 in attorneys’ fees and costs. Respondent does not object to this amount. The undersigned finds this amount to be reasonable.

In sum, the court awards: a. a lump sum of $120,000.00, representing compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The award shall be in the form of a check made payable to petitioner in the amount of $120,000.00; and b. a lump sum of $15,675.12, representing reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs.

The award shall be in the form of a check made payable jointly to petitioner and Maglio, Christopher, & Toale, P.A. in the amount of $15,675.12.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 10, 2014 /s/ Laura D. Millman Laura D. Millman Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.