Court Opinion

ID: 4576241
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-10-13 21:01:55.538923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:47:27.581076
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        Filed: September 23, 2020

* * * * * * * *                     *    *    *   *    *
THOMAS SHINSKEY,                                       *                 UNPUBLISHED
                                                       *
                  Petitioner,                          *                 No. 15-713V
                                                       *
v.                                                     *                 Special Master Gowen
                                                       *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                    *                 Stipulation for Award;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                    *                 Tetanus-diphtheria and
                                                       *                 pertussis (“Tdap”); Guillain
                  Respondent.                          *                 Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).
                                                       *
*    *   *   *    *    *   *    *   *    *    *   *    *

Amber D. Wilson, Wilson Science Law, Washington, D.C., for petitioner.
Voris E. Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                                     DECISION FOR STIPULATION1

        On July 9, 2015, Thomas Shinskey (“petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner received the Tdap
vaccine on July 30, 2012. Petition at Preamble; Stipulation (“Stip.”) at ¶ 2 (ECF No. 104).
Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving the Tdap vaccination, he suffered Guillain Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”). Stip. at ¶ 4.

       On September 23, 2020, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine was the
cause of petitioner’s alleged injuries, or any other injury or his current condition. Id. at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties now agree that the issues
1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. 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. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. §
300aa.
between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the compensation
to the petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶
7.

        The stipulation provides:

        1) A lump sum of $170,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Thomas
           Shinskey, which amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
           available under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a).

       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 SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in
accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                               s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                               Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                               Special Master

3
 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                           )
THOMAS SHINSKEY,                           )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                          )   No. 15-713V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Special Master Gowen
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.      Thomas Shinskey (“petitioner”) 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 sustained following

petitioner’s receipt of a Tdap vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table

(the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a).

       2.      Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on July 30, 2012.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that was

caused-in-fact by his receipt of the Tdap vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that he experienced

the residual effects of his GBS for more than six months.

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

action for damages as a result of his condition.

       6.      Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS and
residual effects, or any other injury.

       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 $170,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
               Thomas Shinskey, which 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 proceeding

upon this petition.

       10.     Petitioner and his 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.

       11.     Payment 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

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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 his

individual capacity, and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns,

does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the Secretary of

Health and Human Services and the United States of America 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 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 Tdap vaccine administered on July

30, 2012, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about July 9,

2015, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 15-713V.

        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 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’

                                                     3
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 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 of

America or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that petitioner’s alleged GBS and

residual effects, or any other injury, were caused by the Tdap vaccine.

       18.     All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to

petitioner’s heirs, successors and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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