In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 13-309V

Filed: September 10, 2014

Not for Publication

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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. *

*

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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.

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this 

case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal 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.
2

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-ofpocket 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

 

2

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.