Judges: Brian H. Corcoran
Filed: May 18, 2020
Latest Update: May 19, 2020
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-0810V UNPUBLISHED BALBINA IBE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 15, 2020 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint HUMAN SERVICES, Stipulation on Damages; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre Respondent. Syndrome (GBS) Danielle Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for responden
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-0810V UNPUBLISHED BALBINA IBE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 15, 2020 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint HUMAN SERVICES, Stipulation on Damages; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre Respondent. Syndrome (GBS) Danielle Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent..
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In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 18-0810V
UNPUBLISHED
BALBINA IBE, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: April 15, 2020
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
HUMAN SERVICES, Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
(Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre
Respondent. Syndrome (GBS)
Danielle Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On June 7, 2018, Balbina Ibe 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 developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on February 25, 2016. Petition at 1, 3;
Stipulation, filed April 14, 2020, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received
the vaccine in the United States, that she experienced the residual effects of this injury
for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil
action for damages as a result of her alleged condition. Petition at 1, 3-4; Stipulation at
¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury, and denies
that petitioner’s alleged GBS and its residual effects were caused-in-fact by her flu
vaccine. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it 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). This means the decision will be available to anyone with access
to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to
redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of
privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such
material from public access.
2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
Nevertheless, on April 14, 2020, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation
reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth
therein.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following
compensation:
A lump sum of $167,500.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
damages that would be available under § 15(a). Id.
I approve 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.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
BALBINA IBE,
Petitioner,
No. 18-810V
v. Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)
ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
STIPULATION
The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:
1. Petitioner Balbina Ibe (“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 February 25, 2016.
3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.
4. Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving the flu vaccine she developed Guillain-
Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) and 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 sustained a GBS Table injury, and denies that
petitioner’s alleged GBS and its residual effects were caused-in-fact by her flu vaccine.
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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 payment:
A lump sum of $167,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a), including pain and suffering, unreimbursable medical
expenses and lost wages.
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.
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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 February 25, 2016, as
alleged by petitioner in her petition for vaccine compensation filed on June 7, 2018, in the United
States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-810V.
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.
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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.
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Respectfully submitted,
PETITIONER:
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
PETITIONER:) , ~
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D~ RA~ C~ RINE E. REEVES
MAGLIO CHRISTOPHER & TOALE, PA Deputy Director
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3505 Torts Branch
Seattle, WA 98104 Civil Division
(888) 952-5242 U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES: ~ '!at)
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