Court Opinion

ID: 6337932
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-05 13:01:39.49977+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:09.143423
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        Filed: November 24, 2021

* * *        *    *    *   *    *   *    * *  *   *
M. M.,                                     *               UNPUBLISHED
                                           *
              Petitioner,                  *               No. 17-68V
                                           *
v.                                         *               Special Master Gowen
                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *               Stipulation for Award;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *               Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular
                                           *               pertussis (Tdap); Guillain-Barre
                                           *               Syndrome (GBS); Chronic
              Respondent.                  *               Inflammatory Demyelinated
                                           *               Polyneuropathy (CIDP).
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amber D. Wilson, Wilson Science Law, Washington, D.C., for petitioner.
Wei K. Tai, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                                     DECISION FOR STIPULATION1

        On January 17, 2017, M.M. (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that as a
result of receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on August 5, 2015,
she developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (“GBS”) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinated
polyneuropathy (“CIDP”). Id.

        On November 23, 2021, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (“Stip.”) (ECF No. 87). Respondent
denies that the Tdap vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged injuries, or any other injury or

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
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.
her current condition. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties
now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered
awarding the compensation to the petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached
hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7.

        The stipulation provides:

        1) A lump sum of $110,000.00 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) for injuries allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt of the
           Tdap vaccine.

       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 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
 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).

                                                         2
                  THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                      ,

                          Petitioner,

 v.                                                      No. 17-68V
                                                         Special Master Gowen
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                          Respondent.

                                            STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to -

of a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular                            , which vaccine is contained in the

       2. Petitioner received a Tdap vaccine on August 5, 2015.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic

                                                         that was caused or significantly

aggravated by the vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced residual effects of this

alleged 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 her condition.
        6. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccination caused or significantly aggravated

                    GBS, CIDP, or any other injury or her current condition.

        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 $110,000.00 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) for injuries allegedly related to                            vaccine.

        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

                                                    ees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this

petition.

        10. Petitioner and her 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.
        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

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 her

individual capacity and on behalf of her 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 August 5, 2015, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on

January 17, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-68V.

        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

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

                                                          pective 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 or significantly

aggravated                       GBS, CIDP, or any other injury or her current condition.

       18. All rights and obliga

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

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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