Court Opinion

ID: 3148888
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-23 12:01:57.974666+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:49:45.616455
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 13-631V
                                   Filed: September 21, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                             UNPUBLISHED
DOUGLAS ORTON, as personal    *
representative of the Estate of WALTER J.
                              *
ORTON, III,                   *
                              *                             Special Master Gowen
          Petitioner,         *
                              *                             Joint Stipulation;
v.                            *                             Attorneys’ Fees and Costs;
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
          Respondent.         *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Diana Stadelnikas Sedar, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Gordon E. Shemin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                    DECISION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1

        On August 30, 2013, Douglas Orton (“petitioner”) filed a petition as a personal
representative of the Estate of Walter J. Orton, III, pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged that as a result
of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 3, 2011, Mr. Orton III developed Guillain-
Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petition at ¶ 4. On February 23, 2015, the undersigned issued a decision
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 (2006)). 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 (2006) (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.

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denying compensation to petitioner because petitioner failed to meet his burden of proof. See
Decision, docket no. 27, filed Feb. 23, 2015.

         On September 18, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation concerning attorneys’ fees and costs.
Petitioner requests a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $21,000.00. Stip. for
Fees and Costs ¶ 5. Respondent does not object. Id. at ¶ 3. In accordance with General Order #9,
petitioner represents that he incurred costs in pursuit of this claim in the amount of $8,000.00. Id.
at ¶ 4; see also Declaration, docket no. 31, filed Sep. 18, 2015.

       The Vaccine Act permits an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 42 U.S.C. § 300
aa-15(e). Based on the reasonableness of the parties’ stipulation, the undersigned GRANTS the
request for approval and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

       Accordingly, an award should be made as follows:

       (1) in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and to petitioner’s attorney,
           Diana Stadelnikas Sedar, of Maglio Christopher & Toale, in the amount of
           $21,000.00; and

       (2) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Douglas Orton, only, in the amount
           of $8,000.00.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance herewith.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.

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