Court Opinion

ID: 2757618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-04 17:01:39.280561+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:49.104723
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 13-400V
                                    Filed: November 12, 2014

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                          UNPUBLISHED
MERIT ADAMS, as Personal                   *
Representative of the Estate               *
GWENDOLYN D. ADAMS,                        *
                                           *             Special Master Dorsey
              Petitioner,                  *
                                           *
v.                                         *
                                           *              Joint Stipulation on Damages;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *              Trivalent Influenza (Flu) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *              Respiratory Distress; Bronchial,
                                           *              Esophageal, and Intestinal problems.
              Respondent.                  *
                                           *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Anne Carrion Toale, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Voris Edward Johnson, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                            DECISION1

        On June 14, 2013, Merit Adams (“petitioner”), as the personal representative of the estate
of Gwendolyn D. Adams (“Ms. Adams”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged that the
trivalent influenza (“flu”) vaccination that Ms. Adams received on October 12, 2011, caused her
to suffer injuries which resulted in her death on October 14, 2011. See Petition at 1.
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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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 (2006) (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 November 12, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation, stating that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation.

        Respondent denies that Ms. Adams suffered any injury as a result of the flu vaccine
administered to her on October 12, 2011, and denies that Ms. Adams death was a sequelae of her
alleged vaccine-related injuries. 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 stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

       A lump sum of $175,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner as Personal
       Representative of the Estate of Gwendolyn D. Adams. This amount represent
       compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
       Stipulation ¶ 8.

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

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              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.

                                                 2