{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-1","petitioner_identifier":"Ellen Best","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2010-10-04","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barre Syndrome","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":7500,"decision_date":"2014-10-24","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T03:14:11.462230+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Flu Oct 4, 2010 → GBS; Ellen Best died (Donald Best substituted as sole heir). Stipulation Aug 26, 2014; respondent denied causation; SM Gowen. $7,500. Fees $32,000 (Toale, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Sarasota FL).","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2012-09-02","case_summary":"Ellen Best filed a petition on October 30, 2012, alleging that an influenza vaccination she received on October 4, 2010 caused her to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), with residual effects lasting more than six months. Following Ms. Best's death, her husband Donald Best was substituted as the sole heir and continued the case.\n\nRespondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Best's GBS or any other injury. Nonetheless, both parties agreed in a stipulation filed August 26, 2014 to settle the case. Special Master Gowen found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner received a lump sum of $7,500.00, representing compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).\n\nOn October 3, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation of attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Gowen awarded $32,000.00, payable jointly to petitioner and his counsel, Anne C. Toale of Maglio Christopher & Toale, P.A. Petitioner had not personally incurred any out-of-pocket litigation costs.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Anne Toale","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Maglio Christopher and Toale","petitioner_attorney_location":"Sarasota, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|anne-toale|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"BEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-0","title":"BEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/02/2014) regarding 37 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer (Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2014-09-23","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":311226,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-1","title":"BEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/29/2014) regarding 43 DECISION Fees Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2014-10-24","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":188709,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00838-1"}]}