In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 14-765V

Filed: April 27, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED

DONALDO JONES-FOGLE, *

* Special Master Gowen

Petitioner, *

* Joint Stipulation on Damages and

v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Guillian-Barré Syndrome;

AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

*

Respondent. *

*

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

Kari E. Mellinger, R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C., Harrisburg, PA, for petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On August 22, 2014, Donaldo Jones-Fogle (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.242 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner

alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 14, 2013, he developed

Guillian-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petition at Preamble, docket no. 1, filed Aug. 22, 2014.

Further, petitioner alleged that he experienced residual effects of his injury for more than six

months. Id. at ¶ 16.

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,

the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal

Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat.

2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). As provided by Vaccine Rule

18(b), each party has 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).

2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,

42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to

individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.

1
On January 20, 2016, the partiesfiled a stipulation in which they state that a decision should

be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccination caused petitioner’s

GBS or any other injury or condition. Stipulation for Award (“Stip. for Award”) at ¶ 6, docket no.

32, filed Jan. 20, 2016. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation attached hereto as

Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the

Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

The parties also stipulate to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the joint stipulation

filed on January 20, 2016. The parties agree to a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the

amount of $36,647.22. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner represents that he did not

personally incur costs related to this proceeding. See General No. 9 Statement, docket no. 33, filed

Jan. 26, 2015. The undersigned finds the stipulation for fees and costs reasonable and adopts it as

the decision of the Court.

The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

1) A lump sum of $425,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Donaldo

Jones-Fogle. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be

available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a), other than the past medical expenses set

forth in paragraph 2), below;

2) A lump sum of $24,969.69, payable jointly to petitioner, Donaldo Jones-Fogle, and

Chambersburg Hospital

760 East Washington Street

Chambersburg, PA 17201

Re: Patient #H00050471390

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to Chambersburg Hospital; and

3) A lump sum of $36,647.22, in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and

to petitioner’s attorney, Kari E. Mellinger, of R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C.,

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e), for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Stip. for Award at ¶ 8.

The undersigned approves the requested amounts for petitioner’s compensation and

attorneys’ fees and costs. Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in

accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Thomas L. Gowen

Thomas L. Gowen

Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of

notice renouncing the right to seek review.

2