# In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 13-883V (Not to be published)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DOUGLAS D. NICHOLS , * * Petitioner, * Filed: Marc h 23, 2015 * v. * Decision by Stipulation; Damages; * Influenza ( “ Flu ”) Vaccine ; * Guillain

- Barré Syndrome (“ GBS ”) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES , * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Diana Sedar , Maglio, Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioner

.

Alexis Babcock , U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On November 8, 2013
, Douglas Nichols filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ( the “ Vaccine Program ” ). 2 Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain

- Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and related complications as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine

.

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E

- Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107

- 347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa

- 12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the posted decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidenti al information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidenti al; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole decision will be avai lable to the public. ( Id. )

2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99

- 660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa

- 10

- ' 300 aa

- 34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa.Respondent denies that P etitioner ’s GBS and any related medical problems were caused by the receipt of the flu vaccine

. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above

- stated positions, agreed in a s tipulation filed March 2 3 , 201 5 that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

I h ave rev iewed the file , and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation is reasonable

. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.

The st ipulation awards:

(a) A lum p sum of $ 60,000.00, in the form of a check payable to P etitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) ; and

(b) A lum p sum of $1 ,556.10 representing compensation for satisfaction of the State of Florida Medic aid lien, payable jointly to the Petitioner and

Xerox Recovery Services P.O. Box 12188 Tallahassee, FL 32317-2188 Attn: April Baucham

Petit ioner agrees to endorse this payment to Xerox Recovery Services.

Stipul ation ¶ 8.

I app rove a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made
to Petitioner

. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ B rian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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