Court Opinion

ID: 2679638
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-06-19 20:01:04.919293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:48:41.644206
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                       No. 13-941V
                                   (Not to be published)

*****************************
                                                   *
LOUIS R. BROCKINGTON,                              *
                                                   *
                     Petitioner,                   *     Filed: May 28, 2014
                                                   *
              v.                                   *     Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
                                                   *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
                                                   *     Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                            *
HUMAN SERVICES,                                    *
                                                   *
                     Respondent.                   *
                                                   *
*****************************
James M. Griffin, Lewis, Babcock & Griffin, L.L.P., Columbia, SC, for Petitioner.

Justine Daigneault, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

                            DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On November 27, 2013 Petitioner Louis R. Brockington filed a petition seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine
Program”). 2 Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and related
1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will 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 (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B),
however, the parties may object to the published decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of
confidential information. Specifically, under 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). Otherwise, the whole decision will be available to the
public. (Id.)
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.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa.
complications as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine.

        Respondent denies that Petitioner’s GBS and any related medical problems were caused
by the receipt of the flu vaccine. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated
positions, agreed in a stipulation filed May 27, 2014 that the issues before them can be settled
and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

        I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’
stipulation is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms
set forth therein.

       The stipulation awards:

              A lump sum of $160,000.00, 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.

        I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made
to Petitioner. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the
clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith. 3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          /s/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                             Brian H. Corcoran
                                                             Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly or
separately filing notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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