Court Opinion

ID: 4178116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-16 12:07:20.975099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:24.455151
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 14-0823V
                                    Filed: January 25, 2017
                                          Unpublished

****************************
LINDA HURLEY,                             *
                                          *
                     Petitioner,          *      Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                        *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-Barré
                                          *      Syndrome (“GBS”); Special Processing
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *      Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *
                                          *
                     Respondent.          *
                                          *
****************************
Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Camille M. Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On September 5, 2014, Linda Hurley (“petitioner”), 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 she suffered Guillain-
Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
November 26, 2013. 3 Pet. at 1; Stip., filed Jan. 24, 2017, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Petitioner
further asserts that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she
experienced the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there
has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the

undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2National 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).

3The vaccine administration record indicates petitioner received the flu vaccine on November 26, 2013.
Pet. Ex. 18. Petitioner alleged in the petition that she received the vaccine on November 27, 2013. See
generally Petition.
condition. Pet. at ¶¶ 2, 13-15; Stip. at ¶¶ 3-5. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine
caused petitioner’s alleged GBS or any other injury or condition. Stip. at ¶ 6.

        Nevertheless, on January 24, 2017, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. 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 of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
        Linda Hurley. Stip. at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all
        damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.

       The undersigned approves 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

4 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.

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