Court Opinion

ID: 3196725
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-21 20:01:33.412333+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:06.201884
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 10-487V
                                       Filed: March 21, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                UNPUBLISHED
AMANDA FOSTER,                *
                              *                                Special Master Gowen
          Petitioner,         *
                              *                                Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                            *                                Hepatitis B (“Hep B”) Vaccine;
                              *                                Encephalopathy; Dystonia.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
          Respondent.         *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Robert J. Krakow, Law Office of Robert J. Krakow, P.C., New York, NY, for petitioner.
Justine E. Walters, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                            DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

         On July 28, 2010, Amanda Foster (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged
that as a result of receiving Hepatitis B (“Hep B”) vaccinations on August 3, 2007 and September
10, 2007, she suffered encephalopathy, dystonia, and other related symptoms. Stipulation at ¶ 2,
4, filed Mar. 18, 2016. Further, petitioner alleged that she experienced residual effects of her injury
for more than six months. Petition at ¶ 33, filed July 28, 2010.

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
        On March 18, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should
be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the Hep B vaccinations caused
petitioner’s encephalopathy, dystonia, or any other injury or her current condition. Stipulation at
¶ 6. 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:

       1) A lump sum of $57,986.27, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Amanda
          Foster; and

       2) A lump sum of $2,013.73, which amount represents reimbursement of a Medicaid
          lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and

                                       DHHR/HMS Tort Recovery
                                              P.O. Box 11073
                                      Charleston, West Virginia 25339
                                              File No.: 137667

           Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to DHHR/HMS Tort Recovery.

These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(a).

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

         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.

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