DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
BRIAN H. CORCORAN, Special Master.
On May 14, 2014, Petitioner Ivanka Pentcholov filed a petition on behalf of her daughter seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that A.P. suffered aplastic anemia and its related sequelae as a result of receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") and meningococcal vaccines on August 20, 2012.
Respondent denies that A.P.'s medical problems were caused by the receipt of the Tdap and/or meningococcal vaccines. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation filed March 4, 2016, that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.
I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties' stipulation is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.
The stipulation awards:
An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract (as provided for in ¶ 10 of the Stipulation, paid to the Life Insurance Company which in turn will pay (among other things) $101,617.75 as a lump sum to A.P. on August 11, 2019.
Stipulation ¶ 8.
I approve a Vaccine Program award as described above. 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
STIPULATION
The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:
1. Petitioner, Ivanka Pentcholov, filed a petition for vaccine compensation on behalf of her daughter, A.P. ("AP"), under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (the "Vaccine Program"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to AP's receipt of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") and meningococcal vaccines, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).
2. AP received the vaccines on August 20, 2012.
3. The vaccines were administered within the United States.
4. Petitioner alleges that, as a result of receiving the vaccines, AP suffered from aplastic anemia and its related sequelae, and that AP experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months.
5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf of AP as a result of her condition.
6. Respondent denies that the vaccines caused or significantly aggravated AP's alleged medical condition, any of her ongoing symptoms, or any other injury.
7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.
8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a):
An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 below, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased (the "Life Insurance Company").
9. The Life Insurance Company must have a minimum of $250,000,000.00 capital and surplus, exclusive of any mandatory security valuation reserve. The Life Insurance Company must have one of the following ratings from two of the following rating organizations:
a. A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;
b. Moody's Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aal, or Aaa;
c. Standard and Poor's Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+. or AAA:
d. Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA.
10. The Secretary of Health and Human Services agrees to purchase an annuity contract from the Life Insurance Company for the benefit of AP, pursuant to which the Life Insurance Company will agree to make a payment to AP for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a), as follows:
a. $101,617.75 payable in a certain lump sum on August 11, 2019. The payment provided for in this paragraph 10 shall be made as set forth above. Should AP predecease the certain lump sum payment set forth above, said certain lump sum payment shall be made to her estate. Written notice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the Life Insurance Company shall be provided within twenty (20) days of AP's death.
11. The annuity contract will be owned solely and exclusively by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will be purchased as soon as practicable following the entry of a judgment in conformity with this Stipulation. The parties stipulate and agree that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the United States of America are not responsible for the payment of any sums other than the amounts set forth in paragraph 8 herein and the amounts awarded pursuant to paragraph 12 herein, and that they do not guarantee or insure any of the future annuity payments. Upon the purchase of the annuity contract, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the United States of America are released from any and all obligations with respect to future annuity payments.
12. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys" fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this petition.
13. Petitioner and her attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under any State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or State health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.
14. Payments made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to paragraph 12 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.
15. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys" fees and litigation costs, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of AP, as contemplated by a strict construction of 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h).
16. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 12, petitioner, in her individual capacity and as legal representative of AP, on behalf of herself, AP. and AP"s heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or could be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of AP resulting from, or alleged to have resulted from, the vaccinations administered on August 20, 2012, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about May 14, 2014, in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 14-414V.
17. If AP should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be voidable upon proper notice to the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties.
18. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties' settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.
19. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except as otherwise noted in paragraph 12 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties* respective positions as to liability and/or amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the items of compensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement.
20. Petitioner hereby authorizes respondent to disclose documents filed by petitioner in this case consistent with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program System of Records, No. 09-15-0056.
21. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap and meningococcal vaccines caused AP to suffer aplastic anemia or any other injury or condition.
22. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns as legal representatives of AP.
