Court Opinion

ID: 4422852
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-05 16:01:47.842734+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:48:08.548262
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        No. 18-303V
                                     Filed: July 11, 2019

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DANNY MITCHELL,         *                                          UNPUBLISHED
                        *
         Petitioner,    *                                          Decision on Joint Stipulation;
                        *                                          Guillain-Barre Syndrome
v.                      *                                          (“GBS”); Influenza (“Flu”)
                        *                                          Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,     *
                        *
         Respondent.    *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shealene Mancuso, Esq., Muller Brazil LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Voris Johnson, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Roth, Special Master:

       On February 28, 2018, Danny Mitchell (“Mr. Mitchell or “petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that
he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (“GBS”) after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
October 6, 2016. Stipulation, filed July 11, 2019, at ¶¶ 1-4. Respondent denies that the
aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-
347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the Decision’s
inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party
has fourteen 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
 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).

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         Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On July 11, 2019, the parties filed
a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.

Respondent agrees to issue the following payment:

           A lump sum of $55,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Danny
           Mitchell. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
           under § 300aa-15(a).

        I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance
with this decision.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                               s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                               Mindy Michaels Roth
                                               Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                           )
DANNY MITCHELL,                            )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                           )  No. 18-303V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Special Master Roth
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.      Danny Mitchell (“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 6, 2016.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that was

caused-in-fact by his receipt of the flu vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that he experienced the

residual effects of his GBS 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 GBS 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 $55,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
               Danny Mitchell, 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

paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject

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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 6, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about

February 28, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-303V.

        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’

settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.

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       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 GBS and

residual effects, or any other injury, were caused 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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