Court Opinion

ID: 4392704
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-01 16:01:40.784923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:45.820144
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 17-988V
                                          (not to be published)

*************************
SARA TORRES-RUIZ,          *
                           *
                           *                                     Special Master Corcoran
                           *
               Petitioner, *                                     Filed: March 15, 2019
                           *
          v.               *
                           *                                     Decision by Stipulation; Influenza Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                     Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
               Respondent. *
                           *
*************************

Lawrence R. Cohan, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Lara A. Englund, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                      DECISION ON STIPULATION1

       On July 21, 2017, Sara Torres-Ruiz filed a petition seeking compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleged that she suffered
from Guillain-Barré syndrome as a result of the influenza vaccine she received on November 6,
2014. Id. at 1. In March 2018, the parties began engaging in settlement negotiations. See Mot. to
Suspend Deadline at 1, filed Mar. 13, 2018 (ECF No. 12). While Respondent maintains that the

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This
means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information.
Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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 online in its
present form. Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
influenza vaccine did not cause Petitioner’s injury, the parties filed a stipulation on March 14,
2019. See Stip. at 1–2 (ECF No. 26).

       Based upon my own review of the record, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation (as
attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the
terms set forth therein.

         The stipulation awards:

         •   A lump sum of $177,067.24, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner; and
         •   An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract as described in Paragraphs 9–10
             of the parties’ stipulation (as attached hereto).

Stip. at 2. This amount represents compensation for all damages under Section 15(a) of the Act to
which Petitioner is entitled.

        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/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Special Master

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

                                                           2