Court Opinion

ID: 4297522
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-25 16:01:38.720561+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:30.948536
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** *
VACILIS KOLLIAS,          *
                          *                        No. 16-868V
              Petitioner, *                        Special Master Christian J. Moran
                          *
v.                        *                        Filed: June 27, 2018
                          *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH       *                        Stipulation; Tetanus-diphtheria-
AND HUMAN SERVICES,       *                        acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine;
                          *                        Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”).
              Respondent. *
******************** *

Joseph T. McFadden, Rawls Law Group, Norfolk, VA, for Petitioner;
Ryan D. Pyles, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On June 27, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition
for compensation filed by Vacilis Kollias on July 22, 2016. Petitioner alleged that
the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine he received on July 26, 2013,
which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a),
caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome. Petitioner further alleges that he
suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioner
represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for
damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.

       Respondent denies that the vaccines either caused or significantly
aggravated petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury, and denies that
petitioner's current disabilities are the result of a vaccine-related injury.

       1
         The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
      Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

       A lump sum payment of $80,000.00 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).

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 16-868V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.2

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                     s/Christian J. Moran
                                                     Christian J. Moran
                                                     Special Master

       2
          Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.

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                  THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

VACILIS KOLLIAS,

                       Petitioner,

v.                                                       No. 16-868V
                                                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

                                            STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Vacilis Kollias ("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 related to petitioner's receipt

of a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the

Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

       2. Petitioner received a Tdap vaccine on or about July 26, 2013.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that the Tdap vaccine caused him to develop Guillain-Barre

Syndrome ("GBS") and that he experienced residual effects of this injury 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.

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        6. Respondent denies that the Tdap immunization is the cause of petitioner's alleged

GBS and/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-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of $80,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount
        represents all compensation for 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-2l(a)(l), 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 they have identified to respondent all

known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including 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 entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

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        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

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, and past unreimbursable expenses, 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 and/or

assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United

States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 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 Tdap vaccination administered on

or about July 26, 2013, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or

about July 22, 2016, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 16-868V.

        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.

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       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.

       16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and

damages claimed under the National Childhood 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 or the

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged GBS

and/or any other injury.

        18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

        ~
V ACILIS KOLLIAS

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                     AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
PETITIONER:                                0 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

RAWLS   LA
              cFADDEN, JR.
             GROUP, P .C.
                               y                      EE. REEVES

208 East Plume St., Ste. 331
Norfolk, Virginia 23510                    Civil Division
(757) 275-8057                             U.S. Department of Justice
                                           P.O. Box 146
                                           Benjamin Franklin Station
                                           Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                  ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 RESPONDENT:
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

NARAYAN NAIR, M.D.
Director, Division of Injury               Trial Attorney
Compensation Programs                      Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                  Civil Division
U.S. Department of Health                  U.S. Department of Justice
and Human Services                         P.O. Box 146
5600 Fishers Lane                          Benjamin Franklin Station
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N146B       Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 20857                        (202) 616-9847

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