1

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

Filed: December 5, 2019

 

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

BENJAMIN GAY, *

* UNPUBLISHED

*

*

Petitioner, * No. 18-1394V

*

v. * Special Master Dorsey

*

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation;

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine;

* Transverse Myelitis (“TM”).

Respondent. *

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David A. Tierney, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.

Mollie D. Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1

On September 13, 2018, Benjamin Gay (“petitioner”) filed a petition in the National 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that he developed transverse myelitis 

(“TM”) due to the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on January 9, 2017. Petition at 1 (ECF 

No. 1). 

 

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 

undersigned is 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, the undersigned 

agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such 

material from public access. 

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. § 300aa.
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On December 4, 2019, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of 

compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 25). Respondent denies that the flu vaccine

caused petitioner to suffer from TM or any other injury. 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 stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation: 

(1) A lump sum of $91,829.36 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). Stipulation at ¶ 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 

Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora B. Dorsey

 Nora B. Dorsey

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.