VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00765
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00765
Petitioner: Donaldo Jones-Fogle
Filed: 2014-04-27
Decided: 2016-05-19
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-10-14
Condition: Guillian-Barré Syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 490000

AI-assisted case summary:
Donaldo Jones-Fogle filed a petition on August 22, 2014, alleging that he developed Guillian-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 14, 2013. He further alleged that he experienced residual effects of his injury for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccination caused petitioner's GBS or any other injury. On January 20, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The Special Master, Thomas L. Gowen, found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The award included a lump sum of $425,000.00 for all damages other than past medical expenses, payable to Donaldo Jones-Fogle. Additionally, a lump sum of $24,969.69 was awarded for past medical expenses, payable jointly to Donaldo Jones-Fogle and Chambersburg Hospital. Attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $36,647.22 were awarded, payable jointly to Donaldo Jones-Fogle and his attorney, Kari E. Mellinger of R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C. Judgment was entered in accordance with the terms of the stipulation.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Donaldo Jones-Fogle alleged that he developed Guillian-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following an influenza vaccination on October 14, 2013, and experienced residual effects for more than six months. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation for award, agreeing to compensation without admitting causation. The stipulation included a total award of $490,000.00, comprising $425,000.00 for general damages, $24,969.69 for past medical expenses payable to Chambersburg Hospital, and $36,647.22 for attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court on May 19, 2016. Petitioner's counsel was Kari E. Mellinger of R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C., and respondent's counsel was Traci R. Patton of the United States Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific medical theory of causation, expert testimony, or the mechanism of injury.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00765-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-05-19
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/27/2016) regarding 44 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-00765-UNJ Document 45 Filed 05/19/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-765V
Filed: April 27, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
DONALDO JONES-FOGLE, *
* Special Master Gowen
Petitioner, *
* Joint Stipulation on Damages and
v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Guillian-Barré Syndrome;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kari E. Mellinger, R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C., Harrisburg, PA, for petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On August 22, 2014, Donaldo Jones-Fogle (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner
alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 14, 2013, he developed
Guillian-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petition at Preamble, docket no. 1, filed Aug. 22, 2014.
Further, petitioner alleged that he experienced residual effects of his injury for more than six
months. Id. at ¶ 16.
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 (2012)). 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 (2012) (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.
1

Case 1:14-vv-00765-UNJ Document 45 Filed 05/19/16 Page 2 of 7
On January 20, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should
be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccination caused petitioner’s
GBS or any other injury or condition. Stipulation for Award (“Stip. for Award”) at ¶ 6, docket no.
32, filed Jan. 20, 2016. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation attached hereto as
Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties also stipulate to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the joint stipulation
filed on January 20, 2016. The parties agree to a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the
amount of $36,647.22. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioner represents that he did not
personally incur costs related to this proceeding. See General No. 9 Statement, docket no. 33, filed
Jan. 26, 2015. The undersigned finds the stipulation for fees and costs reasonable and adopts it as
the decision of the Court.
The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
1) A lump sum of $425,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Donaldo
Jones-Fogle. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a), other than the past medical expenses set
forth in paragraph 2), below;
2) A lump sum of $24,969.69, payable jointly to petitioner, Donaldo Jones-Fogle, and
Chambersburg Hospital
760 East Washington Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Re: Patient #H00050471390
Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to Chambersburg Hospital; and
3) A lump sum of $36,647.22, in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner and
to petitioner’s attorney, Kari E. Mellinger, of R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C.,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e), for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Stip. for Award at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amounts for petitioner’s compensation and
attorneys’ fees and costs. Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in
accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.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.
2

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