In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 15-1374V 

Filed: December 16, 2016

Unpublished

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

SANDRA PHILLIPS, * 

 * 

 Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages; 

v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-Barré

 * Syndrome (“GBS”); Special Processing

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Unit (“SPU”)

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

 * 

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

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.

Voris E. Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On November 13, 2015, Sandra Phillips (“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 GuillainBarré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 

4, 2013. Pet. at 1; Stip., filed Dec. 16, 2016, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Petitioner further states that 

the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced 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 for damages as a result of her condition. Pet. at ¶¶ 3, 20, 24; 

Stip. at ¶¶ 3-5. Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner’s 

alleged injury and residual effects, or any other injury. Stip. at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on December 16, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint 

stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 

undersigned intends 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). 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 National 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).
2

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 lump sum of $195,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, 

Sandra Phillips. Stip. at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all 

damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id. 

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.

 s/Nora Beth Dorsey

Nora Beth Dorsey

 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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

__________________________________________ 

 ) 

SANDRA PHILLIPS, ) 

 ) 

 Petitioner, ) 

 ) No. 15-1374V (ECF)

v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey 

 ) 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) 

 ) 

 Respondent. ) 

__________________________________________) 

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

 1. Sandra Phillips (“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 sustained following petitioner’s receipt 

of an influenza vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 

C.F.R. §100.3(a). 

 2. Petitioner received an influenza vaccine on October 4, 2013. 

 3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

 4. Petitioner alleges that she subsequently suffered the injury Guillain-Barré 

Syndrome (“GBS”), which petitioner alleges was caused-in-fact by her receipt of the influenza 

vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her 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. 
2

 6. Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged injury 

and residual effects, 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:

A lump sum of $195,000.00 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). 

 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 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.

 11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to 
3

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 the 

award for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, 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 Secretary of 

Health and Human Services and the United States of America 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 influenza vaccine administered on 

October 4, 2013, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about 

November 13, 2015, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 15-1374V.

 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’ 
4

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 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 of 

America or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that petitioner’s alleged GBS and 

residual effects, or any other injury, were caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine.

 18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to 

petitioner’s heirs, successors and/or assigns. 

END OF STIPULATION

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/