# In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

## * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JULIE RICH, * * No. 15

- 1329v Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * v. * Filed: February 1 3 , 2017 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine ; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * optic neuritis; vision loss. * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dianna L. Stadelnikas , Magnolia, Christopher, and Toale, PA , Sarasota , FL , for Petitioner; Amy P. Kokot , U.S. Dep ’ t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. UNPUBLISHED DECISION 1 

## On February 10, 2017 , the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Julie Rich on November 5, 2015 . In her petition, petitioner alleged that the influenza vaccine , which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C .F.R. §100.3(a), and which she received on November 6, 2010, caused her to develop optic neuritis and/or vision loss in her right eye

. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her be half as a result of her condition. Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner to suffer optic neuritis, vision loss in her right eye, or any other injury.

1 

### T he E -Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012 ) ( Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.2 

## Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. Damages awarded in that stipulation include:
a. A lump sum payment of $ 175,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Julie Rich . T his amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa - 15(a); and b. A lump sum payment of $ 148.91, which amount represents reimbursement of a State of Illinois Medicaid lien , in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and : Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Bureau of Collections Technical Recovery Section P.O. Box 19174 Springfield, IL 62794 - 9174 ATTN: Mr. Kevin Thornton Kevin.Thornton@illinois.gov Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in cas e 15

- 1329V according to this decision and the attached stipulation. 2 

## I T IS SO ORDERED. s/Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran Special Master

2 

### Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Fed eral Claims judge.IN THE UNITED STATES C O U RT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS 

### OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
J ULIE R I CH,

. Petitione r,


### v. SECRETARY 

### OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV I CES, Re s pondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. l 5
- I 329V (ECF) Special Master Mo ran**~~~~~~ ~~** **~~~~~~~)** STIPULATION The pa r ties her eby stip ul ate to th e fo ll owing motters: I
. Juli e Ric h , p e ti tio n er, fil ed a pe titi on for vacci ne co mp e n sat io n und er the N at i o n a l Vacci ne I nj ur y Compe n s ati o n Pro gra m , 42 U .S.C. §§ 300aa- 1 0 to
- 34 (the "Vaccine Prog r am''). Th e p e tit io n seeks compe n sa ti on fo r injuries a ll eged l y related to pe t it i o ner's re ceip t of the influen za (" flu ") vacc in e, whic h vaccine i s con t a in ed in t h e Vac c ine Injury Tabl e (the ''Table"), 42 C.F
. R. § 1 00.3(a). 2. Petiti one1· r ece ive d a flu vacc in at io n o n o r about October 30, 20 13. 3. The vacci ne was ad mini s t e re d w ithin the United Sta tes. 

### 4
. Pe ti t i o n er a l l eges th a t th e flu vacc in e ca u sed her to d eve lo p optic ne urit is a n d/o r vis i on l oss in he r ri g ht eye . P e titi o ne r furth er a ll eges th a t s h e ex p e ri e nced th e r es idu a l effec t s of the se i1tjuries fo r more tha n s ix mo nths. 5. P et i tion e r represents that th ere h as been no pri o r award or set t l ement of a civ i l action for damages as a re sult o f he r condi ti o n .

### 6. Responde nt d e ni es th nt th e flu vacc in e admin is tere d on or about October 30, 20 13, i s t he cause of pet iti one r 's alleged op ti c n euritis and/or v i s i o n l oss i n her ri ght eye a nd/or a n y o th er I 

### inju r y o r h e r c urrent co n dit i o n . 7. Maintain i ng the ir a bo ve-sta te d p os iti o n s , th e pa1t ies neverthe l ess n ow agree t hat the i ss u es between th e m s h all be se ttl e d and th at a de c i s i o n sho uld be entered award in g t h e
com pen s a t io n de scribe d in pa ragraph 8 of th is St ipu la t io n . 8. As soo n as practicable af ter an e ntry of jud gme nt reflecti n g a decision cons i stent w i th t h

e t e rm s of thi s Stipu l ation, a n d af t er p e titi o n er has filed an e l ectio n to rece ive com pensat io n pursuant to 42 U
. S.C. § 

### 300aa-2 l(a)( 1 ) , the Secreta r y o f H ea lth and Hum an Serv i ces wil l i ssue the fo ll ow in g vacc ine compensation p ayme nt s :
a . A l ump s um of $175,000

. 00 in th e form o f a chec k payab l e t o petit i o n e r . T hi s amou nt re pr ese nt s compensa ti o n fo r all d amages that would be avai l ab l e under 4 2 U.S.C. § 

### 300aa-l S(a); a nd b. A lump s um o f $ 1 48.9 l , whic h a mount r e p rese nt s r e im bu rse me nt o f a S tate o f Illin ois M ed icaid li e n , in the form of a c h eck payab l e j oi ntl y to petitioner and: Ill inoi s Depar tm en t of 1

- l ea lth ca r e and Family Services B ureau o f Col l ect io ns Te chn i ca l R ecov ery Sect ion P .O. Box 191 74 Sp ri ngfie ld , IL 62794 -91 74 Atln : Mr. Kevin T horn ton Ke vi n. T hornto n @i llin o i s.gov Pet i tio n e r agrees to e nd o r se th is check to th e 11 li nois Depar tment of Hea lth ca re and Fami l y Se rv ices.

9. A s soo n as p rac ti ca bl e after th e e ntr y of ju dg m en t on en titl ement in thi s case, a nd after p e tition er has fried both a proper a n d ti m e l

y e l ec ti o n to receiv e co mp e n sat ion pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

### 300aa

- 2 I (a) ( I ) , and an applica ti on, th e parti es wi ll s ubm i t to furt h er pr oceedings befo r e

2the spec i a l ma s ter to awu r d r easo n ab l e at torneys' fees a n d c os t s in c urr ed in p r oceed in g u po n t hi s pet i tion. 10. Pe titi o ner a nd h e r a tt o rney r eprese nt th a t th ey h a ve identified to re sponde nt a ll k n own sou r ces of payment fo r items o r services fo r whic h the Program is n ot primarily I iabl e und e r 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- I 5(g), in clu d in g State com p e n sa ti o n pro gra m s, i nsurance policies, F

e dera l o r S t a t e hea l t h b e nefits pro gra m s (ot he r th a n Titl e X I X of th e Soc i a l Sec urity Ac t ( 4 2 U.S.C. § 

### 1 396 et seq. )) , o r entiti es th at provide healt h se r v ices o n a pre - pa id basis. 1 1
. Pay me nt made p ur s uant t o p a ra gra ph 8 o f t hi s St ipula t ion, and a n y amount awa r ded pu r s u ant to paragraph 9 of thi s S tipul at io n , w ill b e made in accorda nce with 42 U.S.C. 

### § 300aa

l 5(i), s ub jec t t o the availability of s uffi c i e nt s t a t

u to ry fund s. 1 2. Th e partie s and thei r a tl ori1eys furth e r a g ree a n d s t ip u l ate tha t , excep t fo r a ny award for at torn eys' fe es a nd li ti ga ti o n costs, and p as t unr eimb ur sable expenses, the money prov i ded pursua n t to thi s Stip ul a ti o n wi ll be u se d so l e ly for th e be n efi t o f p e t i ti o ner as con te mp l a ted by a
s tri c t co n s tru ct io n of 42 U .S.C. § 30 0 aa- 1 5 (a ) a nd (d) , and s ub jec t to t he cond iti o n s of 42 U
. S
. C. § 300aa

- I 5(g) an d ( h ). 13. In r etu rn fo r the p ayme nt s descr ib e d in p aragraphs 8 a nd 9, pe t i ti o n e r, in he r indiv idu a l capacity, a nd o n behalf of her h ei r s, execu t o r s, ad mini stra t o r s , successo rs and/or

ass i g n s, does foreve r ir revocab l y a nd uncondi t io n a lly r e l

ease, acq uit a nd d is c harg e th e United States and th e Sec r eta r y o f Hea lt h a nd Hum an Se rvic es from any ancl a ll act i o n s or causes o f action (in cl u d in g agreeme nt s, jud g me nt s, cla i ms, d a mages, l oss of se rvi ces, ex p e n ses and a ll de m a nd s o f wha tever kind o r nature) tlrn t h ave bee n bro u g ht , co uld h ave b ee n b ro u g ht , o r co uld be timely brought in th e Co ur t o f Federa l C l ai m s, un der t h e Nat i o n a l Vaccine Inj ur y Co mp ei1sat i o n P rog ram , 42 U
. S
. C. § 300 aa- I 0 ct seq., on acco un t of, o r i n a ny way grow in g o ut

3of, a ny a nd a ll known o r unknown, s u specte d or un s u s pected per sonal injurie s to or death o f peti tione r r es u l tin g from, o r a ll eged to have resulted from, the flu vacc in atio n administe r e d on or about October 30 , 2013, as al l eged by petit ioner in a petiti o n for vaccine co mp ensa t i on fi l ed o n
or about November 5, 20 1 5, i n the Uni te d States Court o f Fede ra l C laim s as petit i on No. 15 , 1329V. 14. If pet iti one r s ho uld die prior to e ntry of j ud g m e nt , this agreeme nt s h all be voi d able upon prop e r notice to the Courl on beha l f of either or both of the parties. 

### 15. If the spec ial master fai l s to i ssue a dec i s i

o n in complete co nfo rmity with th e term s of th i s St ipul ation or if th e Court of Federal Claims foils to ente r j ud g ment in confor m ity w it h a deci sion th at is in comp lete conformity w ith the term s of thi s Stipulation, then th e p arti es'

settl emen t a nd t h i s St ipul a t i o n s ha ll be voidab l e at t he so le discretion of either p a 1 ty. 1 6. Thi s Stipu lation expresses a full and co mpl e t e nego ti a ted se ttl e m ent of l ia bilit y and damages c la im ed und e r th e National Childhood Vaccine Inj ur y Act of 1 986, except as otherwise

noted in paragraph 9 above. There i s absolute l y n c:i agreement o n the pa rt of the part ies he r e t

o to
ma k e any payment or to do any act or thin g other than i s he rein express ly sta t ed and clear l y agreed to. T h e parties further agree and und e rs ta nd th a t th e award d escr i bed in th i s St ipu lat i on may r e fl ect a comprom ise of th e parties' r espect ive p os iti o n s as to l iab ility a nd /o l' amo un t of da mages, a nd further, that a c han ge in th e nature o f th e injur y or condition o r in the item s of compensat io n so l 1g ht, is not g r o und s to modify or revise thi s agree m ent. 1 7. T hi s S tipulati o n s hal l not be construed as a n ad m issio n by th e U ni ted S tat es o r th e Secre t a r y of H eal th a nd Hum a n Serv ices that t h e flu vaccine caused petitioner's a ll ege d optic

ne uri t i s and/or vis i o n l oss in he r ri g ht eye a nd/ o r a n y other injury or her c urr e nt condition
.

.. 4

. .1 8. All ri g ht s a nd obligations of petitioner hereun der shall apply equally to petiti o ner's he ir s, exec uto rs, a dm i nistrat o rs, s uccessors, an d /o r ass igns.



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### I I I I I I I END OF STIPULATJON

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### Respectfully s ubmitted , 

### PETITIONER:

# ~**J~** 

### ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR PETITIONER :

Maglio C hn stop h e r and T o ale , P .A. 1605 Main Street, Suite 710 Sarasota, FL 34236 

### Te l : (888) 952-5242 

### AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATlV E OF THE ATIORNEY GENERAL:

R I NE E. REEVES 

### De p uty Dir ecto r Torts Branch C ivil Div i s i on U.S. Department of Ju s tice P.O. Box 146 B e nj a min 

### Franklin Stati on W

as hin gto n ; DC 20044

- 0 146
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

### RESPONDENT:

# ~ t'./tf'f -· 

# w**_.__._...._,.--.._,_.~A- ,-** **~-'- -'--~~~** **AMY:KO T~** **~~~ ~-**  

### Dire ctor, Divi s i on of Injur y Tri a l A ttorn ey Compensa ti on Progra m s Tort s Bra n ch Hea lth ca r e Syste m s 

### Bureau C iv i l Division U.S. Department of H ea lth U.S. Depa rtment of Ju s tice a n

d Hum a n Services P.O. Box 146 5600 

### Fisher s Lane B e nj amin Franklin Station Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N J 46B 

### Wash i n g t

o n, DC 20044-0 146 

### Rockville, MD 20857 

### Tel : (202) 6 1 6-4 11 8


### Dated: 

### .f)./ 10 /d-, 0 1 1

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