Court Opinion

ID: 3211418
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-09 12:01:58.431782+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:14.182536
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    (Filed: May 18, 2016)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                            UNPUBLISHED
ASHLEY HOUSE,                                  *
                                               *       No. 15-1124V
               Petitioner,                     *
                                               *
v.                                             *       Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                               *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                            *       Joint Stipulation on Damages;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            *       Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine.
                                               *
               Respondent.                     *
                                               *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amber Diane Wilson, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                            DECISION1

        On October 5, 2015, Ashley House (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (2012) (“Vaccine Act”).2
Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an
influenza vaccination she received on September 16, 2014. Petition at ¶¶ 2,4.

        On May 17, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they stated that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused
petitioner’s alleged GBS or any other injury.

1
 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note
(2012)(Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). As provided
by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 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).
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.
                                                   1
       Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A.
The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in
awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum in the amount of $132,443.45 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Ashley House.

       This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Stipulation dated May 17, 2016 (ECF No. 25) at ¶ 8.

       The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             Chief 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