Court Opinion

ID: 5121317
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-26 21:02:07.301932+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:21.995345
License: Public Domain

Sn the Guited States Court of Federal Clanns

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

ke KKK KKK KK KK KK KKK KK KOK
VINCENT RICCIARDI, *
* No. 18-455V
Petitioner, ** Special Master Christian J. Moran
Ed
Vv. ** Filed: September 15, 2021
Ed
SECRETARY OF HEALTH ** Stipulation; influenza (“‘flu’’) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, ** Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”).
Ed
Ed
Respondent. **
ke KKK KKK KK KR KK Kk KK OK KOK

Bridget C. McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner;
Christine M. Becer, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

 

 

UNPUBLISHED DECISION'

On September 14, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Vincent Ricciardi on March 28, 2018.
Petitioner alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on November 1,
2016, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R.
§100.3(a), caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Petitioner
further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six
months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a
civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.

 

! The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine either caused petitioner to suffer from
GBS or any other injury or his current condition.

Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

A lump sum payment of $80,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner. This amounts represent compensation for all damages that
would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached
stipulation.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master

 

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

 

 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
)
VINCENT RICCIARDI, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 18-455V
v. ) Special Master Moran
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND )
HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Petitioner, Vincent Ricciardi, 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 related to petitioner’s receipt
of the Influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the
“Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on November 1, 2016.

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

4. The petition alleges that petitioner’s flu vaccine caused him to suffer from Guillain-
Barre syndrome (“GBS”) and that he experienced the residual effects of this condition for more
than six months.

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages arising out of the alleged vaccine injury.
6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury, and further denies
that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS or any other injury or condition.

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 $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).

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 any
proceeding upon this petition.

10. Petitioner and petitioner’s 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, and
represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or
services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g).

11. Payment(s) 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
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, and past unreimbursable expenses, 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 petitioner’s
individual capacity, and on behalf of petitioner’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors or
assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United
States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 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 United States 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 vaccination
administered on or about November 1, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine
compensation filed on or about March 28, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as

petition No. 18-455V.
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 United States 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’ 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 Childhood 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 or the
Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged injury or
any other injury or petitioner’s current condition.

18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner’s
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

END OF STIPULATION

a i en Te Ed
Respectfully submitted,
PETITIONER:

t -

CENT RICC I

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
ONER:

  
   
 

[ Maa)

715 Twining Road, Suite 20
Dresher, PA 19025

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

pale P. Mishler, PHSc, MS, APRN, for

 

TAMARA OVERBY

Acting Director, Division of Injury
Compensation Programs

Healthcare Systems Bureau

Health Resources and Services
Administration

U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services

5600 Fishers Lane, 08N146B

Rockville, MD 20857

Dated: o4alelzor}

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
RESPONDENT:

H x
otha U Ceerl\v_

CHRISTINE M. BECER
Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 616-3665
christine.m.becer@usdoj.gov