Court Opinion

ID: 2716438
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-08 16:00:59.320194+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:23:56.944204
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 12-343V
                                       Filed: July 18, 2014

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                           UNPUBLISHED
CHARLES FOUT,                         *
                                            *            Special Master Dorsey
              Petitioner,                   *
                                            *             Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                          *             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain
                                            *             Barre Syndrome (GBS)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                            *
              Respondent.                   *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Benjamin Scott Barnes, Hall and Butler, Bowie, MD, for petitioner.
Michael Patrick Milmoe, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                           DECISION1

        On May 31, 2012, Charles Fout (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged
that an influenza vaccine he received on September 8, 2010, caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré
Syndrome. See Petition at 1.

       On July 18, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered
awarding compensation.

       Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS, or any other
1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling 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
Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 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).
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in 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-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.

                                                  1
injury, and further denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related
injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A.
The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in
awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       The parties stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

       A lump sum of $80,000.00, 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).

       Stipulation ¶ 8.

       The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Special Master

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                  2