VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00554
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00554
Petitioner: Darka Raicevic
Filed: 2016-05-05
Decided: 2016-05-05
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-09-30
Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 606660.93

AI-assisted case summary:
Darka Raicevic, an adult, filed a petition on May 5, 2016, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on September 30, 2013. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Raicevic's GBS or any other injury. The parties reached a stipulation to resolve the case, which the Special Master adopted. The decision details the compensation awarded based on this stipulation. A lump sum of $415,295.04 was awarded to Ms. Raicevic, covering first-year life care expenses ($102,469.31), lost earnings ($72,000.00), pain and suffering ($239,827.85), and past unreimbursable expenses ($997.88). Additionally, a lump sum of $191,365.89 was awarded to reimburse a lien for services rendered on behalf of Ms. Raicevic, payable jointly to Ms. Raicevic and the Department of Health Care Services. Ms. Raicevic agreed to endorse this check to the State. The award also included an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract, paid to the life insurance company. The total compensation awarded was $606,660.93. The Special Master was Laura D. Millman. Petitioner's counsel was Lisa A. Roquemore, and respondent's counsel was Gordon E. Shemin. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Darka Raicevic alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on September 30, 2013, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation to resolve the case, and the Special Master adopted the stipulation, awarding compensation. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused GBS. The award included a lump sum of $415,295.04 for life care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses, a lump sum of $191,365.89 for lien reimbursement, and an amount for an annuity, totaling $606,660.93. Special Master Laura D. Millman issued the decision on May 5, 2016. Petitioner was represented by Lisa A. Roquemore, and respondent by Gordon E. Shemin.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00554-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-05-27
Pages: 10
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/05/2016) regarding 36 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-00554-UNJ Document 40 Filed 05/27/16 Page 1 of 10
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-554V
Filed: May 5, 2016
Not for Publication
*************************************
DARKA RAICEVIC, *
*
Petitioner, *
*
Damages decision based on
v. *
stipulation; Guillain-Barré
*
syndrome (“GBS”); influenza
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
(“flu”) vaccine
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*************************************
Lisa A. Roquemore, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, for petitioner.
Gordon E. Shemin, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On May 4, 2016, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle
this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré
syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 30,
2013. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from GBS or any other
injury. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.
The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby
adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards:
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’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)
(Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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.

Case 1:14-vv-00554-UNJ Document 40 Filed 05/27/16 Page 2 of 10
a. A lump sum of $415,295.04 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, which
represents compensation for first year life care expenses ($102,469.31), lost earnings
($72,000.00), pain and suffering ($239,827.85), and past unreimbursable expenses
($997.88);
b. a lump sum of $191,365.89, which represents reimbursement of a lien for services
rendered on behalf of petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and:
Department of Health Care Services
Class Action Unit
P.O. Box 997421, MS 4720
Sacramento, CA 95899-7421
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to the State; and
c. an amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the
attached stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be
purchased.
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: May 5, 2016 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.
2

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