Court Opinion

ID: 4089003
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-12 16:03:02.565423+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:01.811476
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                     (Filed: September 16, 2016)
                                             No. 13-712V

* * * * * * * * * * * * *                                                UNPUBLISHED
SHANE D. LEAK           *
                        *                                                Decision on Joint Stipulation;
                        *                                                Acute Disseminated
          Petitioner,   *                                                Encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”);
                        *                                                Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine
v.                      *
                        *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,     *
                        *
          Respondent.   *
                        *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

David C. Richards, Christensen & Jensen, Salt Lake City, UT, for petitioner.
Althea Davis, US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Roth, Special Master:

        On September 23, 2016, Shane D. Leak (“Mr. Leak” or “petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that
he developed Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”) as a result of receiving an
influenza vaccination on September 29, 2010. See Stipulation, filed September 15, 2016, at ¶¶ 1-
4. Respondent denies that the influenza immunization caused petitioner’s alleged injury.
Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this
decision 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), a party has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other
information, that satisfies the criteria in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule
requirement, a motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, I agree that the
identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will delete such material from public access.

2
 National 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 (2012).

                                                           1
        Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On September 15, 2016, the
parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.

Respondent agrees to issue the following payment:

             A lump sum of $1,500,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Shane
             Leak. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
             under § 300aa-15(a).

       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 is directed to enter judgment in
accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                      Mindy Michaels Roth
                                      Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the
right to seek review.
                                                         2