In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 14-654V

Filed: August 17, 2015

Unpublished

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

KAREN WOOLLEY, *

*

Petitioner, *

v. *

* Attorney Fees and Costs; Stipulation

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND *

HUMAN SERVICES, *

*

Respondent. *

*

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Amber Wilson, Esq., Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, (DC) Washington, DC, for 

petitioner.

Justine Walters, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS1

Vowell, Chief Special Master:

On July 25, 2014, Karen Woolley filed a petition for compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,

2

[the 

“Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that she suffered the Miller Fisher 

variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) causally related to an adverse reaction to the

influenza vaccine she received on September 9, 2013. Petition, ¶¶ 2, 5-7; Stipulation, 

filed June 15, 2015, ¶¶ 2, 4. On June 16, 2015, I issued a decision awarding 

compensation to petitioner based on the parties’ stipulation.

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend 

to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the EGovernment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 

U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioners have 14 days to identify 

and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted 

invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will 

redact such material from public access.

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for 

ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2006).
2

On August 13, 2015, the parties filed a Stipulation of Facts Regarding Final 

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. According to the stipulation, the parties agree upon an 

award of $18,363.82 for attorney’s fees and costs and an award of $19.76 for costs paid 

by petitioner for a total award of $18,383.58. In compliance with General Order #9,

petitioner has filed a statement indicating she incurred $19.76 in out-of-pocket 

expenses.

The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 

U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e). I find the proposed amount to be reasonable.

Accordingly, I award the total $18,383.58 as follows:

1. an award of $18,363.82 in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner

and petitioner’s counsel, Amber D. Wilson, and 

2. an award of $19.76 in the form of a check solely payable to petitioner.

The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Denise K. Vowell 

Denise K. Vowell

Chief Special Master

 

3 Entry of judgment can be expedited by each party’s filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 

See Vaccine Rule 11(a).