Court Opinion

ID: 4456738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-18 21:02:00.941203+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:18.961984
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-519V
                                    Filed: September 9, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JANICE SHELLY,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
                                                             Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Syndrome (GBS)

                       Respondent.

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On April 9, 2018, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the “Vaccine
Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that was
caused-in-fact by her receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
November 20, 2015. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed September 9, 2019, at ¶¶ 1, 4.
Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States,
that she experienced the residual effects of her GBS for more than six months, and that
there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of
her condition. Petition at 5-6; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner
sustained a GBS Table injury, and denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s
alleged GBS and residual effects, or any other injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with
Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information,
the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims'
website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal
Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services).
2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       Nevertheless, on September 9, 2019, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The
undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court
in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $98,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
        Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
        damages that would be available under § 15(a). Id.

       The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice

renouncing the right to seek review.

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                           )
JANICE SHELLY,                             )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                          )   No. 18-519V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.      Janice Shelly (“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 allegedly sustained following

petitioner’s receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine

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

       2.      Petitioner received flu and pneumococcal vaccines on November 20, 2015.

       3.      The vaccines were administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that was

caused-in-fact by her receipt of the flu vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced

the residual effects of her GBS 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 her condition.

       6.      Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury, and denies that
the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS 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 $98,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
               Janice Shelly, which 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 her 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

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

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to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

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

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 her

individual capacity, and on behalf of her 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 flu or pneumococcal vaccines

administered on November 20, 2015, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine

compensation filed on or about April 9, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as

petition No. 18-519V.

        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 and

residual effects, or any other injury, were caused by the flu 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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Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

                                               -
                                             AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
                                             0 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

                                              -~,,__,-RINE E. REEVES
  napol Weiss                                Deputy Director
One Logan Square                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
130 N. 18 th Street, Suite 1600              U.S. Department of Justice
Philadelphia, PA 19103                       P.O. Box 146
(215) 790-4567                               Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                    ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   RESPONDENT:
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

TAMARA OVERBY
Acting Director, Division of Injury          Senior Trial A
   Compensation Programs (DICP)              Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                    Civil Division
U.S. Department of Health                    U.S. Department of Justice
   and Human Services                        P.O. Box 146
5600 Fishers Lane                            Benjamin Franklin Station
Park lawn Building, Mail Stop 08N 146B       Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 20857                          (202) 616-4136

Dated:   1 {4 / I '1

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