Court Opinion

ID: 855949
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-03-22 14:27:22.135255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:13:09.936827
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 12-686V
                                     Filed: February 28, 2013
                                        Not for publication

*************************************
CAROL ORSINGER,                             *
                                            *
              Petitioner,                   *
                                            *      Damages decision based on stipulation;
 v.                                         *      influenza vaccine; Guillain-Barré syndrome
                                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                            *
              Respondent.                   *
                                            *
*************************************
Charles W. Marsar, Harrisburg, PA, for petitioner.
Lynn E. Ricciardella, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                              DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

         On February 28, 2013, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to
settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that she suffered from
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) that was caused by her December 3, 2009 receipt of the influenza
vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of GBS for more than six
months. Respondent denies that petitioner’s GBS, or any other injury, was caused in fact by the
influenza vaccine. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master's action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims's website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made
available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review,
agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall
delete such material from public access.
       The court hereby adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards
compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the
Court awards petitioner a lump sum of $100,000.00, representing compensation for all damages
that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The award shall be in the form of a check
for $100,000.00 made payable 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.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 28, 2013                                                    /s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                               Laura D. Millman
                                                                                Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party=s filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                    2