In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 19-0909V 

UNPUBLISHED 

RHONDA O’BRIEN, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: April 8, 2021 

 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; Influenza 

(Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre 

Syndrome (GBS) 

 

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for 

Petitioner. 

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. 

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

 On June 21, 2019, Rhonda O’Brien 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 injuries, including Guillain-Barré 

syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on February 12, 

2018. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at April 6, 2021, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that 

she experienced the residual effects of her condition for more than six months. Petition 

at 6; Stipulation at ¶4 . “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table Injury, 

within the Table time period, and further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to 

suffer GBS or any other injury or her current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

Nevertheless, on April 6, 2021, 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. 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 EGovernment 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 subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa 

(2012). 
2

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following 

compensation: 

A lump sum of $100,000.00, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 

Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages 

that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. 

I approve 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/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 

RHONDA O'BRIEN, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent. 

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No. 19-909V (ECF) 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

STIPULATION 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

1. Rhonda O'Brien, 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 is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the 

"Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a). 

2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on February 12, 2018. 

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States. 

4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a Guillain-Barre syndrome ("GBS") Table injury 

following administration of the flu vaccine, and that she experienced the residual effects of this 

condition for more than six months. 

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action 

for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition. 

6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury, within the Table time 
period, and further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury 

or her 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 Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2 l (a)(l ), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue 

the following vaccine compensation payment: 

A lump sum of $100,000.00 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-2 l (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 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 of this Stipulation and any amounts awarded 

pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa15(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 attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursed expenses, 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 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 February 12, 2018, as 

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about June 21, 2019, in 

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. l 9-909V. 

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' 

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 GBS, or 

any other injury or condition. 

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

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. 

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END OF STIPULATION 
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Respectfully submitted, 

PETITIONER: 

~~EN d -

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

PETITIONER: 

Counsel 

~ for Petitioner 

1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE SECRET ARY OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES: 

&Pro&~, D~c-1 cf~ 

TAMARA OVERBY 

Acting Director, Division of Injury 

Compensation Programs (DICP) 

Healthcare Systems Bureau 

Heath Resources and Services Administration 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

5600 Fishers Lane, 08N146B 

Rockville, MD 20857 

Dated: Ov/ }ot,, (ZDZ:I 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: 

~~B-~ HEATHER L. PEARLMAN 

Acting 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: 

)~ _) I)cl~ 

b-y~~L\J~ 

KIMBERLY S. DA VEY 

Trial Attorney 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

U.S. Department of Justice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, DC 20044-0146 

(202) 307-1815 

Kimberly.Davey@usdoj.gov