1

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 15-92V

Filed: November 17, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED

LAURIE DART, *

* Special Master Gowen

Petitioner, *

* Joint Stipulation on Damages and

v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Transverse Myelitis.

AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

*

Respondent. *

*

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

Diana Stadelnikas Sedar, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Adriana R. Teitel, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On January 30, 2015, Laurie Dart (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged

that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 17, 2013, she developed

transverse myelitis (“TM”). Stipulation for Award at ¶ 2, 4, docket no. 16, filed Nov. 12, 2015.

Further, petitioner alleged that she experienced residual effects of her injury for more than six

months. Id. at ¶ 4.

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.
2

On November 12, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision

should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccination caused

petitioner’s TM or any other injury or condition. Id. at ¶ 6. 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 a joint stipulation filed

on November 16, 2015. The parties agree to a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount

of $11,500.00. Stipulation for Fees at ¶ 5, docket no. 17, filed Nov. 16, 2015. In accordance with

General Order #9, petitioner represents that she did not personally incur costs related to this

proceeding. Declaration, docket no. 18, filed Nov. 16, 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 $90,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Laurie

Dart. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be

available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

2) A lump sum of $11,500.00, in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and

to petitioner’s attorney, Diana Stadelnikas Sedar of Maglio, Christopher & Toale,

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

Id. at ¶ 8.

The undersigned approves the requested amount 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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FED ERAL CLAI MS

OFFICE OF SPECIA L MASTERS

No. I 5-92\f

Spcciul Muster Gowen

ECr:

STIPULATION

The parties hereby slipu luk lll the following mnllers:

I. Pclilioncr Laurie Da rt (''petitioner") filed a pclition fo' r \'accinc compensation under

the Nutionnl Vacc ine Injury Compcnsutio n Prngr:im, 42 U.S.C. § 300u:i-10 lo 34 (t he "Vaccine

Progrnm''). The pclilion seeks eompcnsutiun for injuries nllcgcdly rclntcd lo pctilioncr's receipt

uf'un innucn;w vaccine ("flu"), whid1 vaccine is conluim:d in !he Vnccinc Injury Table (the

''Tnblc"), 42 C.f-'.R. I00.3 {a).

2. Petitionerreceived her nu immunization on Octobcr 17, 2013.

3. The vnccinc wus administered within lhl!United Slates.

4. Petilioncr ul lcgcs that sh<: sustnincd a vact:inc-rel:itcd injury diugnoscd as tnmsvcrsc

myel itis ("TM") thm was cnuscd-in-focl by the nu vacc ine. She f'urlher alleges that she

experienced the n.:siduu l effects of her injury for more thun six months

5. Petitionerrepresentsthat there hus been 110 prior uward orsettlcmc.:lll orn civil action

fordnmngc:;:.isaresultof"hcrcondilinn.

LAURIEDART,

l'clit ium:r,

v.

SECRETARYOFHEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.
6. Responde11l denies Lhnlpclilinnl!r's allegedTtvl nnd residual effectswere cuust:c.l-infoci by Lhe Ou vacci11e. Rcspo11dc111 further dt:nics lllUL lht: nu vuct.:ine caused petitioner any

other injury or her cu1-rc11l cundit io11.

7. Maintainingtheir nbuvl'-slutcd positions,thepartiesncv·rthclcssnowagree that the

issues between them shull be settled uml thnl a decision should be l:nlercd awarding the

co111pcnsntion described in purngrn ph 8 of this SLipulution.

8. As soon us pract icublc artcr an entry ol'j11dgmc11t rcllect ing a decision consistent with

the terms of'this Stipu lation, anti al'll!r pc1i1io11cr has filed 1111 ch.:c1io11 to rt:ccive compcnsntiun

pursuam lo42 U.S.C.§JOOau-21(n)(I).theSecrclnryol'Health nnd Humun Serviceswill issue

lhe following vaccine compcnsution puymcnl:

A lump sumofS90,000.UOin thc form orn check p,1yunlc to petitioner. This

amountrepresentscompensat ion for:illdamngcsth;llwouldbeavuilubll!under42

U.S.C. § 300ua-l 5(a).

9. /\ssoon as praclicnblc artcrtin:entryofjudg111c111 on cntillc:rnent in this case, and after

pctirionerhnslill!d both a propernnc..ltimo.:lyclectiuntoreceiveemnpensation pursuant to42

U.S.C.§ JOO:in-2l(n)(I), und anapplicatiu11,the partieswillsubmitlo l'urthcrproceedingsbcl'ore

the spccinl master 10 award rcasonnblc allorneys' l'ccs and costsin°;11rrcd in rroceecling upon this

petition.

I0. Petitioner and her nllorncy rcpn.:senlthnt they have idcmifio.:d to rcsromknl all

known sources orpayment for i1ems orservices for whkh the Program is not primarily liable

under·12U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g),includingStutc compcnsalion programs.insurnncc policies,

Fedcr:.il orStnle health benelils programs(otherthun TitleXIX of'theSocial Security1\cl(4::!

U.S.C. § 13% ct seq.)).or entitiesthal provide ho.:nlth services on a rrc-paid basis.
1 1. l'aymc11ls rnaclc pursuanl lo paragraph 8 and any nrnounts uwurdcd pursuant to

puragruph IJ of this Stipulation will he made in nccordnncc with 42 U.S.C. § 300au-l 5(i), subject

to the nvnilnbility ofsufficient statutory r1111ds.

12. Thepartiesand theirallomcysfurtherngrccandstipulntc lhnt,exceptforanyuwun.J

foranomeys'teesand litigationrnslsand past unrcimbursablc c:-:pnsc:s,themoneyprovided

pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solelyforthL·benefit ofpei.itioncr asrnntcmplntcd byu

strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-J 5(aJ and (d), nnd subject 1.0 the co11clitions uf 42 U.S.C.

§ 300:.ia-IS(g) and (h).

I3. In return forthe payments dcs1.:ribcd i11 paragraphs 8nnd9.petitioner,in her

individual capacity, and on buhutrul'her heirs, executors, ndministrntors, successors orussigns.

docsforever i rrc\'ocnbly and u11co11cJi tionally rcknse, ncquit nnd di:;clrnrgc the Unit ed States and

the Secretary of l lculth and Human Scrviccsfrom uny and all actions orcausus of action

(includingagrccmenls,judgments, daims, da111ngcs, lossofscrvics,expenses and all demands

urwhntcvcr kind or nnwrc) that hnvc been brought, could huvc been brought, ur could be timely

brought in theCourtorfederalClaims, umkrthe Nntionul Vaccine InjuryCompensation

Program, :12 U.S.C. § 300:.ia-IOct seq.. Oil account of, or in any way growing out of', any nnd all

known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuriesto Dr,!cuth orpetitioner resulting

l'rom,oralleged to have resulted from, the llu vaccinntion administered OilOctober 17,2013.ns

nll egcd by pet itioner in u pctitiun for vm:ci nc compcnsation filed on Janua ry 30, 2015, in the

Unitl·d StatesCourt of f edera l Clai ms as petition No. 15-9'.!V.

(11. If petitionershould diepriortoentryof'judgmclll,this ag1cementshall bc voidublc

upon propernutii.:etotheCourt Ull bclwlroreitherorbothorthepMtics.
.

15. Irthe specialmasterfoilsto issueu<ltcisiun in comple1 conformitywi1h the terms

o!"lhis Stipulation or iflhcCourt orl.-e<lcrnl Cluimsfoils 1ucnlcrjudg1m:n1 in conf'ormi1y with a

dccisionlh:11isincomple1econformitywith the termsol"thisStipu:niion.then therortics'

sclllcmcnt and 1his Stipu la1io11 shall be 1'oiclublc at the sole dis<.:n.:liun ol°either party.

16. This Stipulation expresses n l'ull and complclc ncgoli1111:d sc:nlcment oflinhility and

c..lamuges claimed under the Notional Childhood Vnccim:Injury J\cl or 1986, as amended , cxccrt

as ulhcrwise noted in paragraph 9ubove. There is absolulely no ngrccmcnl on lhc pan ofthe

punics hereto to make ;iny payment or to do any ncl ur thing other lhnn is herein expressly stated

und dearly agrced to. The parties further agree und unctcrsland that thl:aw:ml ckscribed in this

Stipulutiunmuyreflectrs compromiseol'thcparties'respectivepusilionsustoliobili1yand/or

'1111Ullllt ord111nacs, and further,thut n ch:111gc in the nature urlhe injury or condition orin the

items ol"compcnsntion sought, is not grounds to modil"y or n.:visc this r.grecmcnt.

17. This Stipulmion shnll 1101 be co11struccl ;is an admission by the United Slulcs nr the

Se<.:rctnry or 1-ll'lllth nnd Hll111:11l Servicesthat the nu vaccination C(1l1SCU pclilioncr lo uffcr TM

or any other injury.

IR. All rights am!obl ig:11io11s orpetitioner hereundershall upply equally to rn::ti1ioncr's

heirs, executors, administrutors. successors, und/or ussigns.

END OF STIPU LATION

I

I

I
(,, ,

L

Respectfully su!Jmillcd,

PETITIONER ' /··

LAi2 -W

ATTORNEY OF HECORD FOR

PETITIONER:

AUTHORIZED l.U!:PRESENTATIVE

OFTHE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

MAGLIO, C1m1STOl'l lER & TO,\LE, PA Deputy Director

1605 fain Street, Suite 710

Surasoln,FL34236

(941) 952-5242

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

OF THE SECRET R'i OF HEALTH

Torts 13ram:h

Civil Division

U.S.Dcpnrlm1nt llf.lu5lice

P.O. Box 146

Bc11jumin Franklin Station

Washington, DC 20044 -0146

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR

RESPONDET:

AND H I

)l_ ]SURVIC S:_ , di

A. MELISSA Ht lJSTON, M.D., M.11.H, FAt\P

Director,Division uf'

I njury Compensation Programs

1lculthcarc SystemsBureau

U.S. Dcpar1men1 of Health

and Human Services

5600 Fishers Lane

Parkluwn J3uil c1ing, Mail Stop 1 1C-26

Rockville, MD 20857

1\DRl/\NA TEl' i

Trial t\llorney

Torts Branch

Civil Division

U.S. Dcpur\me111. of Justice

P.O.Dox 146

Bcnjamin r1a11kli11 Stat ion

Wushinglon.DC' 200:.\4-0I4G

(202) 6J 6-3<i77
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL MASTERS

LAURIE DART,

Petitioner,

vs. CASE NO. 15-92V

Special Master Gowen

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES,

Respondent.

/

STIPULATION OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS

1. Diana L. Stadelnikas-Sedar is counsel for Petitioner in this case.

2. Petitioner submitted a draft Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs to

Respondent’s counsel.

3. During informal discussions, Respondent raised objections to certain items in

Petitioner’s draft application. Based on these discussions, Petitioners amended the

Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs to request reimbursement in the amount of

$11,500.00. Respondent does not object.

4. Pursuant to General Order #9, Petitioner has not incurred any costs in pursuit of the

claim.

5. The parties now request that a decision awarding the final attorneys’ fees and costs in

the amount of $11,500.00, payable to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Diana L.

Stadelnikas-Sedar be issued.

6. Petitioner requests that the award for attorney’s fees and costs be forwarded to

Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, 1605 Main Street, Suite 710, Sarasota Florida

34236.

7. Nothing in this Stipulation, including the amount set forth in paragraph 3, should be

construed as an admission, concession, or waiver by either party as to any of the
matters raised by Petitioner’s Application for Fees and Costs, including but not

limited to the hourly rates requested.

Respectfully submitted:

ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENT

/s/ Diana L. Stadelnikas Sedar, Esq. /s/Adriana Ruth Teitel, Esq.

Diana L. Stadelnikas Sedar, Esq. Adriana Ruth Teitel, Esq.

Florida Bar Number 0949061 Trial Attorney

MAGLIO CHRISTOPHER & TOALE, PA Torts Branch, Civil Division

1605 Main Street, Suite 710 U.S. Department of Justice

Sarasota, FL 34236 Post Office Box 146

888-952-5242 Benjamin Franklin Station

fax: 877-952-5042 Washington, D.C. 20044-0146

Attorney for the Petitioner Attorney for the Respondent

Dated: November 16, 2015