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

No. 17 - 870 V UNPUBLISHED
BILLY R

. DEHART ,

Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent. Chief Special Master Corcoran Filed: April 13, 2020 Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint Stipulation on Damages; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain - Barre Syndrome (GBS) David Lee Wallace, Deridder, LA , for petitioner. Jennifer Leigh Reynaud , U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 

### On June 26, 2017 , Billy Dehart 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 he suffered Guillain - Barre Syndrome ( “ GB S ” ) as a result of an influenza ( “ flu ” ) vaccine ad ministered on September 22, 2014 . Petition at 1 ; Stipulation , filed April 7, 2020 , at ¶ ¶ 1 - 2, 4

. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United States ; that he suffered the residual effects of his injury for more than six months; and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his alleged injury . Petit ion at 1 - 2 ; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3 - 5
. “ Respondent denies that pet itioner sustained a GBS Table injury; denies that petitioner ’ s alleged GBS and residual effects were caused - in - fact by the flu vaccine; and denies that the flu va ccine caused petitioner any other injury or his current condition. ” 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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.
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 subpara graph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012 ).2



### Nevertheless, o n April 7, 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 term s stated in the attached Stipulation , I award the following compensation: A lump sum of $ 130,000.00 in the form of a check payable to P etitioner

. Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that wo uld be available under § 15 (a). Id

. I approve the requested amount for P etitioner’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.

### IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

BILLY R. DEHART, Petitioner, V. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. No. 17-870V Chief Special Master Corcoran ECF



### STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 1. Billy R. Dehart ("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") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F .R. 

### § 100.3(a) 2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on September 22, 2014. 3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 4. Petitioner alleges that he sustained a vaccine-related injury diagnosed as GuillainBarre Syndrome ("GBS") as a result of the flu vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of his alleged injury for more than six months. 5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his alleged injury.6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury; denies that petitioner's alleged GBS and residual effects were caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine; and denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or his 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 Stipulatiqn, 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$130,000.00 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-l 5(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-2l(a)(l), 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. l 0. Petitioner and his 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-l 5(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.


### 2

### § 1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis. 11. Payments 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 attorney's 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 his individual capacity, and on behalf of his 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 September 22, 2014,

as alleged in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about June 26, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-870V. 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.
315. 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 vaccine caused petitioner's alleged injury or any other injury or his current disabilities. 18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. END OF STIPULATION 

### I

4Respectfully submitted, 

### PETITIONER:

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR PETITION

518 North Pine Street DeRidder , LA 70634 Tel : (337) 462-0473 Fax: (337) 202-4070



### AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OFTHESECRETARYOFHEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:

TAMARA OVERBY Acting Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs Healthcare Systems Bureau U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services 5600 Fishers Lane Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N146B Rockville, MD 20857

Dated: 

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### AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 0 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: 

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~~....- ,ARINE E. REEVES Deputy Director Torts Branch Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 

### ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR RESPONDENT:

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~ AUD Trial Attorney Torts Branch Civil Division U. S
. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 (202) 305-1586