Court Opinion

ID: 4472507
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-14 13:01:26.472678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:05.379725
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1159V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    AGUSTIN PINO,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: December 13, 2019
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
                                                              (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre
                        Respondent.                           Syndrome (GBS)

Diana Lynn Stadelnikas, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On August 9, 2018, Agustin Pino 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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as
a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 8, 2016. Petition at 1,
3; Stipulation, filed December 12, 2019, at ¶¶ 1-2. Petitioner further alleges that the
vaccine was administered within the United States, that he suffered the residual effects
of this injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or
settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.
Petition at 1, 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused
petitioner’s alleged GBS or any other injury and further denies that his current
disabilities are a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required 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). This means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to
the internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
        Nevertheless, on December 12, 2019, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the
stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set
forth therein.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following
compensation:

        A lump sum of $110,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
        Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
        damages that would be available under § 15(a). Id.

       I approve 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/Brian H. Corcoran
                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                          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
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

AGUSTIN PINO,

                 Petitioner,

 v.                                                       No. 18-1159V
                                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

                                          STIPULATION

        The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Petitioner, Agustin Pino, 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 related to petitioner's receipt of the influenza

("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. §

100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on or about September 8, 2016.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") as a consequence

of the ·flu immunization he received on or about September 8, 2016, and further all_eges that he

suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

       5. 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.

                                            Page 1 of 5
        6. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged GBS or any other

injury and further denies that his current disabilities are a sequela of a vaccine-related 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)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the

following vaccine compensation payment:

                A lump sum of $110,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
                representing 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-2l(a)(l), 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 they have identified to respondent all known

sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42

U.S.C ..§ 300aa-l S(g), including 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 entities that provide health services on a prepaid basis.

                                              Page 2 of 5
        11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation and any amounts awarded

pursuant to paragraph 9 will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject 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, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used

solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a strict eonstruction 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, and assigns, does forever

irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United States and the Secretary

of Health and Human Services 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 United

States 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 flu vaccination administered on or about September 8, 2016, as

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about August 2, 2018, in

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-1159V.

       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 United States Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in

                                              Page 3 of 5
_conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then

the parties' 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 Childhood 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 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 or the

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged OBS or
            .    .
any other injury or any of his current disabilities.

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

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                      END OF STIPULATION

                                             Page 4 of 5
    Respectfully submitted,

    PETITIONER:

                                                    AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
                                                    OF THE ATIORNEY GENERAL:

e
·
          L. STADELNIKIS
       GLIO, CHRISTOPHER & TOALE
    l605 Main St.
                                                .
                                                    (lf{jfa::fwv; ;-
                                                            Director
                                                    Torts Branch
    Suite 7IO                                       Civil Division
    Sarasota, FL 34236                              U. S. Department of Justice
    (888) 952-5242                                  P. 0. Box 146
                                                    Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                    Washington. D.C. 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF                        ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
fflE SECRETARY OF HEAl,TH AND                       RESPONDENT:
HUMAN SERVICES:

TAMARA OVRRRY
Acting Director, Division of
Injury Compensation Programs (DICP)
Healthcare Systems Bureau
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services                                  Benjamin Franklin Station
5600 Fishers Lane                                   Wac;hington, D.C. 20044-0146
Parklawn Building, Stop-08Nl 46B                    Tel: (202) 305-0660
Rockville, MD 2085 7

Dated:

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