Court Opinion

ID: 4270062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-26 12:04:07.342781+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:00.465241
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                   Filed: March 28, 2018

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JACQUELYNN HERNANDEZ,                         *       No. 16-1508V
                                              *
               Petitioner,                    *       Special Master Sanders
                                              *
v.                                            *
                                              *       Stipulation for Award; Tetanus-Diphtheria-
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                           *       acellular-Pertussis (“TDaP”) Vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           *       Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).
                                              *
              Respondent.                     *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Michael A. Baseluos, Baseluos Law Firm, PLLC, San Antonio, TX, for Petitioner.
Lara A. Englund, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                           DECISION1

       On November 14, 2016, Jacquelynn Hernandez (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§
300aa-10 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that the Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular-Pertussis
(“TDaP”) vaccine she received on or about May 8, 2015 caused her to develop Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”). See Stip. at 1, ECF No. 49. Petitioner further alleged that she experienced
residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Id.

       On March 27, 2018, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation to Petitioner. Id. Respondent denies that the TDaP
vaccine caused Petitioner’s alleged GBS, her current condition, or any other injury. Id.
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.
1
  This decision shall be posted 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 (2012)). 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
  National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereafter,
for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of
42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).
        The parties stipulate that Petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

            A lump sum of $153,267.76 in the form of a check payable to [P]etitioner. This
            amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under
            42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Id. at 2.

      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
Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              Herbrina D. Sanders
                                              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.

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

JACQUELYNN HERNANDEZ,                                )
                                                     )
                       Petitioner,                   )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 16-1508V
                                                     ) Special Master Herbrina Sanders
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                       Respondent.                   )
                                                     )

                                            STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Petitioner Jacquelynn Hernandez (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine

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

to 34 (the “Vaccine Program”). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to

petitioner’s receipt of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine, which vaccine

is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received a Tdap vaccine on or about May 8, 2015.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that the Tdap vaccine caused her to develop Guillain-Barre

Syndrome (“GBS”) and that she experienced residual effects of this condition 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 vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS 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 $153,267.76 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).

        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

the special master to award reasonable attorneys’ fees 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.

                                                     2
       12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award

for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs and past unreimbursable expenses, the money provided

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 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 May 8, 2015, as

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about November 14,

2016, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 16-1508V.

       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

decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties’

settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.

                                                  3
       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

Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties’ respective 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 petitioner’s alleged GBS

or any other injury or her current condition.

       18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner’s

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

                                    END OF STIPULATION
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