Court Opinion

ID: 4995364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-28 20:03:55.001834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:16:51.386947
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** *
DANIEL HEDLUND,          *
                         *                         No. 18-820V
             Petitioner, *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                         Filed: August 17, 2021
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         Stipulation; Influenza vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         chronic inflammatory demyelinating
                         *                         polyneuropathy.
                         *
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Kathleen M. Loucks, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner;
Ryan D. Pyles, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On August 17, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Daniel Hedlund on June 11, 2018. Petitioner
alleged that the Influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on or about April 10, 2017,
which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a),
caused him to suffer chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
(“CIDP”). 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.

       1
         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 vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from CIDP or
any other injury.

      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. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in
          paragraph 10 of the stipulation, paid to the life insurance company
          from which the annuity will be purchased.

       b. A lump sum payment of $240,000.00 in the form of a check payable
          to petitioner.

       These 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.2

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

       2
          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.

                                                2