Court Opinion

ID: 4214811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-25 20:02:52.20415+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:51.121500
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-456V
                                     Filed: March 24, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
ISAAC WATSON,                         *
                                      *
                    Petitioner,       *       Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                    *       Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination;
                                      *       Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *
                                      *
                    Respondent.       *
                                      *
****************************
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, PC, Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Michael Patrick Milmoe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On April 11, 2016, 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 he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of
his October 21, 2014 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed March
23, 2017, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges he received his vaccination in the United
States, and that he suffered the sequela of his injury for more than six months. Petition
at ¶¶ 17-18; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-4. Petitioner additionally represents that there has been
no previous action brought, award received, or settlement of civil action for damages on
his behalf as a result of his injury. Petition at 19; Stipulation at ¶ 5. “Respondent denies
that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS, or any other injury, and further
denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.”
Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.
2
 National 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 March 23, 2017, 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.

        The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $135,000.00 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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.

                                                      2