Court Opinion

ID: 4148879
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-28 17:03:09.263435+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:19:20.489396
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                 (Filed: February 1, 2017)
                                       No. 16-162V

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DEBRA BYRD,             *                                     UNPUBLISHED
                        *
         Petitioner,    *                                     Decision on Joint Stipulation;
                        *                                     Guillain-Barre Syndrome
v.                      *                                     (“GBS”); Influenza (“Flu”)
                        *                                     Vaccine.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,     *
                        *
         Respondent.    *
                        *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Edwin Howard, Bonville & Howard, Fitchburg, MA, for petitioner.
Debra Begley, US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                            DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Roth, Special Master:

       On June 4, 2014, Debra Byrd [“Ms. Byrd,” or “petitioner”] filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that
she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving an influenza

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I
intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, 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 (2012)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party
has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria
in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for
redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified
material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will delete 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).

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vaccination on February 5, 2013. See Stipulation, filed February 1, 2017, at ¶¶ 1-4. Respondent
denies that the influenza immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at ¶ 6.

         Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On February 1, 2017, the parties
filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.

Respondent agrees to issue the following payments:

           1. A lump sum of $185,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
              Debra Byrd. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
              available under § 300aa-15(a); and

           2. A lump sum of $39,000.00 in form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
              petitioner’s counsel, Edwin Howard, for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs,
              and, in compliance with General Order #9, no out-of-pocket expenses were
              incurred by petitioner.3

       I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount
and on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in
accordance with this decision.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                              s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                 Mindy Michaels Roth
                                 Special Master

3
  This amount is intended to cover all legal expenses incurred in this matter. This award
encompasses all charges by the attorney against a client, “advanced costs” as well as fees for
legal services rendered. Furthermore, § 15(e)(3) prevents an attorney from charging or
collecting fees (including costs) that would be in addition to the amount awarded herein. See
generally Beck v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 924 F.2d 1029 (Fed. Cir.1991).
4
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
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