Court Opinion

ID: 4246432
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-20 17:04:23.894257+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:23.992532
License: Public Domain

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

******************** *
EUGENIO PAULO DE SOUZA,  *
                         *                         No. 17-100V
             Petitioner, *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                         Filed: January 26, 2018
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”);
                         *                         acute demyelinating polyneuropathy
                         *
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Carol L. Gallagher, Linwood, NJ, for Petitioner;
Voris E. Johnson, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On January 24, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Eugenio Paulo De Souza on January 23, 2017.
Petitioner alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on September 15,
2014, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R.
§100.3(a), caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome/ acute demyelinating
polyneuropathy. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered 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 on his behalf as a result of
his condition.

       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.
       Respondent denies that the flu vaccine either caused or significantly
aggravated petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury, and denies that
petitioner's current disabilities are the result of a vaccine-related injury.

      Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. 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 $70,000.00 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 17-100V 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.

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                           )
EUGENIO PAULO DE SOUZA,                   )
                                          )
                  Petitioner,             )
                                          )   No. 17-100V (ECF)
      v.                                  )   Special Master Moran
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.      Eugenio Paulo de Souza (“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 sustained following

petitioner’s receipt of an influenza vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury

Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a).

       2.      Petitioner received an influenza vaccine on September 15, 2014.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that he subsequently suffered the injury Guillain-Barré

Syndrome (“GBS”)/acute demyelinating polyneuropathy, which petitioner alleges was caused-

in-fact by his receipt of the influenza vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that he experienced the

residual effects of his injury for more than six months.

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

action for damages as a result of his condition.
       6.      Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged injury

and residual effects, or any other injury.

       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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

               A lump sum of $70,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
               Eugenio Paulo de Souza. 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-21(a)(1), 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.

       10.     Petitioner and his 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 and any amounts awarded pursuant to

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paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject

to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

        12.     The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for the

award for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, 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 his

individual capacity, and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns,

does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the Secretary of

Health and Human Services and the United States of America 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 influenza vaccine administered on

September 15, 2014, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or

about January 23, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-100V.

        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’

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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 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 of

America or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that petitioner’s alleged GBS/acute

demyelinating polyneuropathy and residual effects, or any other injury, were caused-in-fact by

the influenza vaccine.

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

petitioner’s heirs, successors and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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