Court Opinion

ID: 3203019
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-12 16:01:58.045137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:06.455312
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-397V
                                     Filed: March 14, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
TROY TURNER,                               *
                                           *
                     Petitioner,           *     Joint Stipulation on Damages;
                                           *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-
v.
                                           *     Barré Syndrome (“GBS”); Special
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *     Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
                     Respondent.           *
                                           *
****************************
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Amy Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On April 20, 2015, 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 from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of the administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine to him on February 7, 2014.
Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed 3/14/2016, ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that he
experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petition at 3;
Stipulation¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine administered on or about
February 7, 2014, is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS and/or any other injury or his
current condition.” Stipulation, ¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on March 14, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.

        The parties stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $50,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
        Stipulation, ¶ 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