In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

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

LAWRENCE BROWN, *

* No. 14-850V

Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran

*

v. * Filed: October 25, 2016

*

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine; 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating

* Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”)

Respondent. *

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

Ronald C. Homer and Lauren Faga, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, Boston, MA, 

for Petitioner;

Julia W. McInerny, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

On October 24, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the 

petition for compensation filed by Lawrence Brown on September 15, 2014. In his

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 he received on 

October 14, 2011, caused him to suffer Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating 

Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”). Petitioner further alleges that he 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 his behalf as a 

result of his condition.

 

1 The 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

Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner to suffer 

GBS or any other injury. 

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 lump sum payment of $425,000.00 in the form of a check payable to 

petitioner, Lawrence Brown. This amount represents compensation for 

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

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

the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 14-850V according to this decision 

and the attached stipulation.2

Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Dan Hoffman, at (202) 357-

6360.

 

IT 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 Federal 

Claims judge.
IN Tll E UN ITED STATES CC)l;tn OF FEDER.I\ I. l. S 

OFFICE OF SPl-:Cl.:\I MASTF.RS 

I .A WR ENCE BROW\:. 1.:1 -850\/ 

Petitioner. 

\ . 

Spec ial !\,laster Mnran 

FCF 

SF.CRF.TARY OF llEAl.TI I 

AND l IUMAN SF.RVICF.S. 

_Respondent. _____ , 

STIPt:J ,,\TIOI\ 

fh: pa11ies hcrehy stipulate to the fo lhi\\'ing ma1h:rs: 

I. l.awn: nce Rrnwn ( .. petitioner'"! !iku a petition ror vacc ine compensntion under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 42 U.S.C. § :rnoaa- 10 to 34 (the .. Vacc ine 

Program" ). Petitioner seeks e<'mpcnsati1rn for injuries allegedly rel ated ~) the seasonal in lluen1a 

(·· nu··i \'aCc ine. v. hich \·m:ci nc is cont<1 incd in the Vaccine nj ur ~ Ta~ e (the·· l'ahk '"). 42 C'.1-. R. 

~ I 00.> (a). 

2. Petitioner received his ll u vaccine on Cktoher 1-L 20 11 . 

:l. !"he vacc ine was administered \\'ithin the United States. 

4. Petiti oner alleges that he suffered Chroni c lnllammat11ry Dcmyelinati ng. 

Polyncuropath y ( .. CIDP") as a result nl'his llu 1;ao.:ination. Petitioner lunher alleges that he 

experienced the resiJual effects or this condition fo r more than six months. 

S. Petitione r represents tht'lt there has been nn prior award or settlement nf a ci,·il 

action ror damages as a result of his co ndition. 

6. Respondent denies that the nu \'aCcinc caused pt:litioncr's alleged (' fl)(> 1)r any other 

injury nr his cu rrent cond ition. 

7. Maintaining their ahc)\'e-statcd positions. th ~ panics ncvcnhclcss now agree 1ha1 the 
issues bet\\'een them shall he -;euled and thllt a decision slwuld he entered awarding 1he 

c~J pcnsation (kscrihed in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation. 

8. As soon as practicuhlc after an entry of.iudgment rellect ing a decision consistent \Vi th 

the tenns c,fthis Stipulation. and allc r petitioner has lih:d an election to n:ceivc cnmprnsatiun 

pursuant tn 42 ll.S.C. ~ ~OOaa-21(al ). the Secretary nf I !eallh and I luman Sen ices ,.,i ll is'.">ue 

the followi ng vaccine compensation payment: 

/\ lump sum or $425.000.00 in the form c,f a check payabk to petitioner. 

This amount represents compensation flir al l damngcs that woul<l he 

a\·ai I ah le unckr 42 U .S.C. ~ >OOaa-1 5( a). 

9. As Sl)On as prat: tic:able after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case. and 

after petitioner has 1iled both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. ~ >OOaa-2 l (a )( I). llnd an application. the parties " ·ill submit to further proceedings 

before the special master to award reasonable al\orncys· ti:es and costs incum:d in proceeding 

upon 1his petition. 

I 0. Petitioner and hi:- attorney rt:prcsent that 1hcy have idcnti lied to respondent all 

knt)\\·I) sour~es or payment ror items or services fo r H"hich the Prngram is nOl primarily liahk 

under .t2 Ll.S.C. ~ 300aa-1 S(gl. including State compensation programs. insurance pol it:it's. 

Federal or Stale health bcnelits programs (other than Title XIX ot" the Social Security /\ct (42 

LI .S.C. ~ 1396 ct seq.)). or n1i1ie ~ that pro,·ide health services on a pre-paid hasis. 

11 . l'aymcnt made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation and any a11wun1s a\\'ar<led 

pursuant Ill paragraph 9 wi 11 he made in accon.lance with 42 l '.S.C. ~ 300aa- 1 )( i l. subject 10 the 

avai la bi Ii ty () r SU f'tic ient stat ulor~ funds. 

1 The parties and their allorneys further agree and stipulate that. except for any a''ard 

fo r attorneys· fcc:s and litigation w~ts. and past unrcimhursed expenses. the monl'Y prO\·ided 
pursuant 10 this Sti pulution. \.V iii he uscJ S<'ldy for the bent: li t l'f petitioner as c0nkmplakd h~ a 

strict construction or 42 lJ.S.C. * .l00aa-l 5(a) anJ (cl). and subject to the conditions or 42 l.i .S.C. 

~ 300aa-15( g) and (h ). 

I J. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9. petiti on.:r. in his 

im.liYidunl capacity. and on hchal t' ot'his heirs. cxccuwrs. admi nistrators. successors or assi~n . 

docs fore\'cr irrc\'ocably and um:nnJitilmally release. m:quit nnd discharge the lJnitcd States and 

the Scc ar~ or l lcalth and I luman Sen ices from any anJ nil aclit1ns or causes nr actio n 

(including agreements . . iudgmcnts. claims. damages. loss or services. expenses and all demands 

l'f whatever kind or nature J that have been brought. could ha,·e bc.:cn bwught. or could he time!~ 

bn1ught in the Court or 1-cdc.:ral Claims. under the ational Vaccine lnj ur} Compensation 

Program. 42 l l.S.C. ~ 300aa-I 0 ct s.:q .. on account of. or in any way !:'.nm ing out 01·. any and al I 

known nr unknown. suspected or unsuspel·tcd personal injuries to 1)r death or pctitinner n:sulting 

from. or allt.:g.ed to ha,·c resul ted from. the tlu ,·acci nmion administered on October 14. 20 11 . as 

alleged by petiti0ncr in a petition for ,·acc inc compensation filed on or about September 15. 

20 14. in the ll nited St:.itcs Coun or Federal Claims as petitinn Nl'. l-t-850V. 

1-L 11° petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment. this agrccml!nt shall be ' t1 idablc 

upon prope r notice tn the Court on hchalfo l" cithcr or both or the parties. 

15. Ir the special 11HIS\\!r fails lO issue a decision in compll'le CClnformi1:- \\ ith the ll'rms 

of this Stipulation or if the Court \lf Federal Claims fails to cnh:r judgment in conformity with a 

decision that is in complete conformit y "ith the terms of this Stipulation. then tht: parties· 

se1tlemen1 and this Sti pu lation shall be voidable •ti the sole discretion or either p:irty. 

16. This Stipulation cxpresscs a rull and complete negotiated sctt k mcnt or liability and 

damagt:s claimed under the l'atinna l Childhood Vacci ne Injury /\ct ot' 1986. as amended. cxccpl 
as othi.:nvis...: noted in pa ragraph 9 abcl\'t..:. Th...:ri.: is absolutely no agreement nn the rart ul" thc 

pai1ics hereto to mak...: any pa} mcnl or to do any act or thing other than is hi.:rcin c-..:prcssly stm...:d 

and clearly agr...:cd to. The partks ru11her agree and understand that the award described in thi. 

Stirul<ltion 111<1)- rellci.:t a wmprt>m is..: nfth..: pa11ics· respcctin: r ositi<,ns as to liul"lil ity and 'or 

;-imount or damages. and further. that a chang..: in the nature t'f thl' injury or condition or in the 

items of comrcnsation sought. is not !:_!rounds to modify nr rl'\·ise 1his agreemt'nt. 

17. This Stipulation shall not ne construed as an admission hy lhe t :nited States or the 

Sccr...:tary or I lcalth and I luman Scn ·ices that the llu vacc ine caused petitioner to suffer< ·mp or 

any nthcr injury. 

lR. All rights and nbliga1i11ns of petitioner hcrcundi:r shall apply equall) 10 pctitionds 

hci rs . ...::-;ecutors. ad mi 11 i st rahirs. suc...:cssors. anclinr assi gns. 

LND OF STIPlJL/\ TIO . 

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