Court Opinion

ID: 3200484
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-04 20:06:14.230925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:20.588567
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-721V
                                    Filed: September 3, 2015
                                           Unpublished

****************************
NELSON STANLEY CUMMINGS,                *
                                        *      Joint Stipulation on Damages;
                      Petitioner,       *      Influenza Vaccine or Flu Vaccine;
      v.                                *      Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
                                        *      Miller-Fisher Syndrome; Miller-Fisher
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *      Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *      Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating
                                        *      Polyneuropathy (“AIDP”); Special
                      Respondent.       *      Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                        *
****************************
Diana L. Stadelnikas Sedar, Esq., Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, (FL) Sarasota, FL,
      for petitioner.
Glenn A. MacLeod, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Vowell, Special Master:

        On August 8, 2014, Nelson Stanley Cummings filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq.,2 [the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that he suffered the Miller-
Fisher variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) resulting from the influenza vaccine he
received on October 17, 2012. Petition, ¶¶ 1, 5-6, 14-15; see also Stipulation, filed
Sept. 2, 2015, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that his “vaccine related injuries have
lasted more than six months.” Petition, ¶ 16. Respondent denies that the influenza
vaccination caused petitioner’s GBS, any other injury, or his current disabilities.
Stipulation, ¶ 6.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, 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)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to
redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of
privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such
material from public access.

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2006).
       Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. Stipulation, ¶ 7. On
September 2, 2015, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and
describing the settlement terms.

      Respondent agrees to pay petitioner a lump sum of $125,000.00 in the form of a
check payable to petitioner, Nelson Stanley Cummings. Stipulation, ¶ 8. This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(a). Id.

      I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the
amount and on the terms set forth therein. In the absence of a motion for review filed
pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in
accordance with this decision.3

                                        s/Denise K. Vowell
                                        Denise K. Vowell
                                        Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each filing a notice renouncing
the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.
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