Court Opinion

ID: 4317118
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-01 16:02:00.564343+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:45.162463
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        Filed: September 6, 2018

*************************
JAMES I. MORAN,             *                                           UNPUBLISHED
                            *
                            *                                           No. 16-1224V
                            *
                Petitioner, *                                           Special Master Gowen
v.                          *
                            *                                           Joint Stipulation; Influenza (Flu);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH         *                                           Chronic Inflammatory
AND HUMAN SERVICES,         *                                           Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
                            *                                           (“CIDP”).
                Respondent. *
*************************

Kate Gerayne Westad, Larkin Hoffman, et al., Ltd., Minneapolis, MN, for petitioner.
Voris Edward Johnson, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     DECISION ON STIPULATION1

       On September 29, 2016, James I. Moran (“Petitioner”) filed a petition in the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Program”).2 Petition, ECF No. 1. Petitioner filed an
amended petition on December 19, 2016, alleging that he suffered from Chronic Inflammatory
Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccination
on October 1, 2013. Amended Petition at 1, ECF No. 9.

       On September 5, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation in which they stated that a
decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation for Award, ECF No.
37. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged CIDP and residual effects,
or any other injury. Id. at ¶ 6.
1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend 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. Before the decision
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 decision
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.
        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 compensation to
petitioner according to the terms of the joint stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A.

         The joint stipulation awards:

          A lump sum of $175,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, James I.
          Moran, which amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
          available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

      I find the stipulation reasonable and I adopt it as the decision of the Court in
awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

        Accordingly, 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
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is 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
__________________________________________
                                           )
JAMES I. MORAN,                            )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                           )  No. 16-1224V (ECF)
      v.                                   )  Special Master Gowen
                                           )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        )
                                           )
                  Respondent.              )
__________________________________________)

                                          STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.      James I. Moran (“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 an 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 October 1, 2013.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that he subsequently suffered Chronic Inflammatory

Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”), which petitioner alleges was caused-in-fact by his

receipt of the flu vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of his

injury 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 flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged CIDP 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 $175,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, James I.
       Moran, 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

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paragraph 9 of this Stipulation 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 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 flu vaccine administered on

October 1, 2013, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about

September 29, 2016, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 16-1224V.

        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 CIDP and

residual effects, or any other injury, were caused-in-fact by the flu 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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