Court Opinion

ID: 4260508
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-04 05:05:36.265009+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:13.786526
License: Public Domain

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

******************** *
RAYMOND DECKER,          *
                         *                         No. 16-1104V
             Petitioner, *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                         Filed: March 7, 2018
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         transverse myelitis
                         *
                         *
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Franklin J. Caldwell, Jr., Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioner;
Adriana R. Teitel, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On March 7, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition
for compensation filed by Raymond Decker on September 2, 2016. Petitioner
alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on October 16, 2015, which
is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), caused
him to suffer transverse myelitis. 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.

       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.
       Respondent denies that the flu vaccine 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.

      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 $107,500.00 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 16-1104V 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.

                                                2