Court Opinion

ID: 3205025
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-19 16:03:01.959355+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:34.059315
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                               No. 10-843V
                                           Filed: April 27, 2016

* * * * * * * *                   *    *   *   *   *               UNPUBLISHED
STACEY G. WILLIAMS,                                *
                                                   *
                         Petitioner,               *               Special Master Gowen
                                                   *
v.                                                 *               Joint Stipulation; Influenza (Flu)
                                                   *               Vaccine; Transverse Myelitis (TM);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                *               Multiple Sclerosis (MS);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                *               Neurological Symptoms
                                                   *
                         Respondent.               *
                                                   *
*    * *    *   *    *   *   *    *    *   *   *   *

Ramon Rodriguez, III, Rawls, McNelis and Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Justine E. Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On December 8, 2010, Stacey G. Williams (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to 34 (2012). Petitioner
alleged that, as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on December 10, 2007, she
suffered from transverse myelitis (“TM”), multiple sclerosis (“MS”), and debilitating
neurological symptoms. Stip. at ¶ 4. Alternatively, petitioner alleged that her underlying
condition was significantly aggravated by the vaccine. Id.

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, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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 (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.
                                                       1
        On April 26, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should
be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the influenza immunization caused
or significantly aggravated petitioner’s TM, MS, neurological symptoms or any other injury or
her current condition. Stip. at ¶ 6. 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 stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following in compensation:

    (1) A lump sum of $195,000.00 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).

        Id. at ¶ 8.

        The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, 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
  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