Court Opinion

ID: 2797630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-30 05:02:00.567584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:22:47.168534
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 13-902V
                                          (Not to be published)

*****************************
                                                 *
PATRICIA K. PATTERSON,                           *
                                                 *
                     Petitioner,                 *      Filed: April 8, 2015
                                                 *
             v.                                  *      Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
                                                 *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
                                                 *      Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                          *
HUMAN SERVICES,                                  *
                                                 *
                     Respondent.                 *
                                                 *
*****************************
Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for Petitioner

Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

                                  DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

        On November 13, 2013, Patricia K. Patterson filed a petition seeking compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”). 2 Petitioner alleges
that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and related complications as a result of
receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will post this decision on the
United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No.
107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the posted decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of
confidential information. Specifically, under 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). Otherwise, the whole decision will
be available to the public. (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.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34
(West 1991 & Supp. 2002). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A.
' 300aa.
        Respondent denies that Petitioner’s GBS and any related medical problems were caused
by the receipt of the flu vaccine. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated
positions, agreed in a stipulation filed April 6, 2015 that the issues before them can be settled and
that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

        I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’
stipulation 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 $460,396.07, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This
                amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
                U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a); and

                A lump sum of $39,603.93, which amounts represents reimbursement of a State of
                New York Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to the Petitioner
                and

                         New York State Department of Health
                         P.O. Box 415874
                         Boston, Massachusetts 02241-5874
                         Attn: Susan G. Fittos
                         Maestro File # 149640

Stipulation ¶ 8.

        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 jointly filing notice renouncing
their right to seek review.

                                                       2