Court Opinion

ID: 2799182
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-05-07 12:02:22.147695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:29.415906
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 14-329V
                                          (Not to be published)

*****************************
                                   *
BARBARA SWEAT,                     *                                      Filed: April 15, 2015
on behalf of S.S., a minor,        *
                                   *                                      Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
                       Petitioner, *                                      Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular
                                   *                                      Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine;
               v.                  *                                      Hepatitis A Vaccine; Brachial
                                   *                                      Plexus Neuritis
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND            *
HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                   *
                       Respondent. *
                                   *
*****************************

Lawrence Disparti, Disparti Law Group, PA, Holiday, FL, for Petitioner.

Amy Kokot, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                  DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 21, 2014, Barbara Sweat filed a petition on behalf of her minor child, S.S., seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the “Vaccine
Program”).2 Petitioner alleges that S.S. developed a brachial plexus neuritis, also known as
Parsonage-Turner syndrome, as a result of receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) and hepatitis A vaccinations on August 8, 2012. Petitioner further alleges that S.S.’s
experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted on the website of
the United States Court of Federal Claims, 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 inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To
do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that each party has fourteen (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 confidential; 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 decision will be available to the public. Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises 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. § 300aa-10 through 34 (2006)) [hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the
Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act.
         Respondent denies that S.S.’s vaccines caused her to suffer brachial plexus neuritis and/or
any other injury or her current condition. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-
stated positions, agreed in a stipulation (filed April 13, 2015) that the issues before them could be
settled, and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

        I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation
(as attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the
terms set forth therein.

         The stipulation awards:

            A lump sum of $50,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner as
             guardian/conservator of S.S.’s estate.

Stipulation ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under 42 U.S.C. ' 300aa-15(a).

        I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amounts 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/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Special Master

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

                                                           2