Court Opinion

ID: 2743056
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-16 16:01:41.071203+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:36.943669
License: Public Domain

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

******************** *
THOMAS O’KEEFFE,         *
                         *                           No. 13-847V
             Petitioner, *                           Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                           Filed: September 16, 2014
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                           Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                           Transverse Myelitis (“TM”).
                         *
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, Boston, MA, for Petitioner;
Lisa A. Watts, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                              UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On September 16 ,2014, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Thomas O’Keeffe on October 29, 2013. In his
petition, petitioner alleged that the influenza vaccine, which is contained in the
Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which he received on
December 8, 2010, caused him to suffer Transverse Myelitis (“TM”). 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 her behalf as a result of her condition.

      Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner to suffer TM
or any other injury.

       1
          The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002), 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 as
Appendix A. 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 $400,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
       Thomas O’Keeffe. 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 13-847V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.2

     Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Christina Gervasi, at (202)
357-6521.

       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