1

 In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 14-789V

Filed: February 2, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED

MICHELENE FALSINI, *

 * Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman

Petitioner, *

 * Joint Stipulation on Damages;

v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;

 * Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

 *

Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Elizabeth M. Muldowney, Rawls, McNelis and Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for Petitioner.

Michael P. Milmoe, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

DECISION1

On August 29, 2014, Michelene Falsini (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

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42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). 

Petitioner alleged that an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on November 14, 2011

caused her to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petition (“Pet.”) at 1-6. 

On February 1, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision 

should be entered awarding compensation. Stipulation, ECF No. 31. Respondent denies that the

flu vaccine caused Petitioner’s condition or any other injury, and “further denies that 

 

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, 

the undersigned intends to post this decision 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 (2006) (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.
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[P]etitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Id. at 2. However, 

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 stipulate that Petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

a) A lump sum of $7,660.02, which amount represents reimbursement of a 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid lien, in the form of a check 

payable jointly to Petitioner, and

Commonwealth of Massachusetts- CRU

Commonwealth of MA

Casualty Recovery

P.O. Box 147811

Boston, MA 02241-7811

 Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to the appropriate State agency.

b) A lump sum of $92,339.98, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, 

representing all remaining damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Stipulation ¶ 8.

The undersigned approves the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. 

Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation. 

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of 

the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ 

stipulation.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman

 Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman

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.