Court Opinion

ID: 4248809
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-28 13:04:10.113618+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:42:57.040488
License: Public Domain

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

******************** *
JOSEPHINE PLOTKIN,        *
                          *                        No. 16-1249V
              Petitioner, *                        Special Master Christian J. Moran
                          *
v.                        *                        Filed: November 27, 2017
                          *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH       *                        Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,       *                        Guillain-Barré Syndrome
                          *
              Respondent. *
******************** *

Anne C. Toale, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner;
Lynn E. Ricciardella, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On November 16, 2017, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Josephine Plotkin on September 30, 2016. In
her 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 she received
on September 6, 2014--caused her to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”).
Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this injury for
more than six months. Petitioner represented that there has been no prior award or
settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition.

       Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner to suffer
GBS or any other injury. Respondent also denies that petitioner’s current
disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.

       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.
      Nevertheless, the parties agree to the attached joint stipulation. 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 $30,000.00 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).

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 16-1249V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.2

       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