Filed: Jul. 03, 2018
Latest Update: Jul. 03, 2018
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 NORA BETH DORSEY , Chief Special Master . On October 27, 2016, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the "Vaccine Act"). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") as a result of her November 22, 2013 influenza ("flu") vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 3, 2018, at 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 NORA BETH DORSEY , Chief Special Master . On October 27, 2016, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the "Vaccine Act"). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") as a result of her November 22, 2013 influenza ("flu") vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 3, 2018, at 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that ..
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UNPUBLISHED
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
NORA BETH DORSEY, Chief Special Master.
On October 27, 2016, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the "Vaccine Act"). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") as a result of her November 22, 2013 influenza ("flu") vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 3, 2018, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5; see Petition at ¶¶ 28-29. "Respondent denies that petitioner's alleged GBS and its residual effects were caused-in-fact by her flu vaccine. Respondent further denies that the vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or her current condition." Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on July 3, 2018, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned awards the following compensation:
a. A lump sum of $157,027.38, representing the balance due on petitioner's past incurred medical expenses, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and VCU Health. Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to VCU Health;
b. A lump sum of $2,431.50, representing the balance due on petitioner's past incurred medical expenses, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and MCV Physicians. Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to MCV Physicians; and
c. A lump sum of $185,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount represent compensation for all remaining damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner's compensation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
STIPULATION
The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:
1. Petitioner Terry E. Christopher ("petitioner") filed a petition for vaccine compensation 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 petitioner's receipt of an influenza ("flu"), which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).
2. Petitioner received her flu immunization on November 22, 2013.
3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.
4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a vaccine-related injury diagnosed as Guillain-Barre syndrome ("GBS") that was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine she received. She further alleges that she 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 as a result of her condition.
6. Respondent denies that petitioner's alleged GBS and its residual effects were causedin-fact by her flu vaccine. Respondent further denies that the vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or her current condition.
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 payments:
a. a lump sum of $157,027.38, representing the balance due on petitioner's past incurred medical expenses, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and VCU Health. Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to VCU Health;
b. a lump sum of $2,431.50, representing the balance due on petitioner's past incurred medical expenses, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and MCV Physicians. Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to MCV Physicians; and
c. a lump sum of $185,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
9. 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.
10. Petitioner and her attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including 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 entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.
11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.
12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys' fees and litigation costs and past unreimbursable expenses, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner 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).
13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her individual capacity, and on behalf of her 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. § 300aa-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 petitioner resulting from, or alleged to have resulted from, the flu vaccination administered on November 22, 2013, as alleged by petitioner in her petition for vaccine compensation filed on October 27, 2016, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 16-1416V.
14. If petitioner 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.
15. 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,
16. 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 9 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.
17. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccination caused petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury.
18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.
