Court Opinion

ID: 2680892
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-06-27 20:01:00.752121+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:15:04.418126
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** *
DOUGLAS SWIFT,                        *    No. 13-763V
                                      *    Special Master Christian J. Moran
                  Petitioner,         *
                                      *
v.                                    *    Filed: June 5, 2014
                                      *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *    Stipulation; influenza (flu) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *    Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
                                      *    attorneys’ fees and costs.
                  Respondent.         *
******************** *
Sheila A. Bjorklund, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner;
Lara A. Englund, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

                              UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On May 22, 2014, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition
for compensation filed by Douglas Swift. In his petition, Mr. Swift alleged that the
influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the
“Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which he received on September 22, 2012,
caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petitioner further alleges
that he experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.
Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil
action for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.

      Respondent denies that petitioner's alleged GBS and residual effects were
caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine. Respondent further denies that the flu vaccine
caused petitioner any other injury or his current condition.

       1
         The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b),
the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other
information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special
master will appear in the document posted on the website.
     Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as
Appendix A.

       Respondent also filed a joint stipulation of fact concerning final attorneys’
fees and costs on May 22, 2014. Prior to filing this stipulation, Mr. Swift
informally submitted a draft application for attorneys’ fees and costs to respondent
for review. Upon review of petitioner’s application, respondent raised objections
to certain items. Based on subsequent discussions, petitioner amended his
application to request $16,000.00, an amount to which respondent does not object.2
Additionally, in compliance with General Order No. 9, Mr. Swift states that he
incurred no out-of-pocket litigation expenses while pursuing this claim.

      The undersigned finds said stipulations reasonable and adopts it as the
decision of the Court in awarding damages and attorneys’ fees and costs, on the
terms set forth therein.

        Compensation awarded in the stipulations includes:

        A. A lump sum of $53,812.78 in the form of a check payable to
           petitioner, Douglas Swift. This amount represents compensation for
           all damages that would be available under 42 U. S.C. § 300aa- 15(a).

        B. A lump sum of $16,000.00 in the form of a check payable jointly to
           petitioner and petitioner’s attorney, Sheila A. Bjorklund of the
           Lommen Abdo Law Firm, for attorneys’ fees and costs available
           under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(e).

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 13-763V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.3

        Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Mary Holmes, at (202) 357-
6353.

        2
         The undersigned ordered that petitioner file his draft application for fees and costs for
review. See order, filed May 28, 2014. On June 5, 2014, petitioner submitted his draft
application with comments objecting to the undersigned’s order.
        3
          Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.

                                                 2
IT IS SO ORDERED.

                        s/Christian J. Moran
                        Christian J. Moran
                        Special Master

                    3
Case 1:13-vv-00763-UNJ Document 19 Filed 05/22/14 Page 1 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00763-UNJ Document 19 Filed 05/22/14 Page 2 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00763-UNJ Document 19 Filed 05/22/14 Page 3 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00763-UNJ Document 19 Filed 05/22/14 Page 4 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00763-UNJ Document 19 Filed 05/22/14 Page 5 of 5