Court Opinion

ID: 4367013
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-12 17:02:41.163082+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:19.832098
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                             No. 16-1225V
                                          (Not to be published)

*****************************
CHARLES STAUBER,            *
                            *
                Petitioner, *                                             Filed: December 17, 2018
                            *
          v.                *                                             Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
                            *                                             Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine.
                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND     *
HUMAN SERVICES,             *
                            *
                Respondent. *
*****************************

Bruce Slane, The Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for Petitioner.

Jennifer Reynaud, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                  DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On September 29, 2016, Petitioner Charles Stauber filed a petition seeking compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”).2 Petition,
ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges that he developed “[a]cute [t]ransverse [m]yelitis, cervical
myelopathy, residual myelomalacia, and syringomyelia” as a result of receiving an influenza
(“flu”) vaccination on October 24, 2014. See Stipulation ¶ 2, dated December 14, 2018 (ECF No.
23); See also Petition.

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 posted 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.
        Respondent denies “that the flu vaccine caused [P]etitioner to suffer from [transverse
myelitis], any other injury, or his current condition.” See Stipulation ¶ 6. Nonetheless both parties,
while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation filed December 14, 2018
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. A lump sum of $200,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner; and

                     b. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph
                        10 [of Stipulation], paid to the life insurance company from which the
                        annuity will be purchased (the “Life Insurance Company”).

Stipulation ¶ 8. This award represents compensation for all damages that would be available under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

        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/ Katherine E. Oler
                                                                        Katherine E. Oler
                                                                        Special Master

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

                                                          2