Court Opinion

ID: 2778893
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-11 21:01:49.463866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:20:34.577896
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 11-771V
                                      Filed: January 20, 2015

***************************                              UNPUBLISHED
DONNA BARKAS, as Personal                       *
Representative of the Estate of                 *        Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
BRIAN BARKAS, deceased,                         *
                                                *
                        Petitioner,             *        Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Reasonable Amount
v.                                              *        Requested to which Respondent Does Not
                                                *        Object.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                             *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                             *
                                                *
                        Respondent.             *
***************************
F. John Caldwell, Jr., Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioner.
Darryl Wishard, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                               DECISION 1

         On November 15, 2011, Brian Barkas 2 filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”), 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. (2006), 3 alleging
that he suffered from transverse myelitis as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on August 31,
2010. On July 18, 2014, the undersigned issued a decision dismissing the case.

        On January 20, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation of fact concerning attorneys’ fees and costs.
The parties have agreed to an award of $45,000.00 for attorneys’ fees and costs. In accordance with
General Order Number 9, Petitioner represents that she has not personally incurred any expenses in
pursuit of her claim.

        1
          The undersigned intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ website, 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 (2006)). As provided by Vaccine Rule
18(b), each party has 14 days within which to file a motion for redaction “of any information furnished by
that party (1) that is trade secret or commercial or financial information and is privileged or confidential,
or (2) that are medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” In the absence of such motion, the entire decision will be available to
the public. Id.
        2
         Brian Barkas passed away after the petition was filed. See Order, filed July 17, 2014. Donna
Barkas, his wife, was substituted as Petitioner. Id.
        3
         The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises 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-10 et seq. (2006).

                                                     1
        The undersigned finds that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a
reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate, pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems reasonable and appropriate.
Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $45,000.00, in the form of a check made
payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, F. John Caldwell, Jr., of the law firm of
Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA.

      In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court
SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation. 4

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                  /s/ Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                                  Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                                  Special Master

        4
          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