Court Opinion

ID: 2776145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-03 21:01:59.358613+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:39.489939
License: Public Domain

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

***************** ***
FRANK FORTUNATO,         *                           No. 14-158V
                         *                           Special Master Christian J. Moran
             Petitioner, *
v.                       *                           Filed: January 8, 2015
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                           Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine,
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                           Guillain- Barré syndrome (“GBS”).
                         *
             Respondent. *
********************

Danielle Strait, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner;
Voris Johnson, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                              UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On January 5, 2015, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Frank Fortunato on February 27, 2014. In his
petition, Mr. Fortunato alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which is
contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and
which he received on or about December 13, 2012, caused him to suffer Guillain-
Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petitioner further alleges that he experienced 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 as a result
of his condition.

      Respondent denies that the flu vaccine administered on or about December
13, 2012, is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS and/or any other injury.

       1
         The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b),
the party has 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.
      Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as
“Appendix A.” 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 of $120,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
        Frank Fortunato. 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 14-158V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.2

        Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Mary Holmes, at (202) 357-
6353.

        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.

                                                2
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