Court Opinion

ID: 4096152
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-07 21:03:54.213386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:20.235576
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 15-956V
                                      Filed: August 4, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                              UNPUBLISHED
GENE MICHAELSON,              *
                              *                              Special Master Gowen
          Petitioner,         *
                              *                              Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                            *                              Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
                              *                              Transverse Myelitis.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
          Respondent.         *
                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                           DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On September 1, 2015, Gene Michaelson (“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 October 9, 2014, he
developed transverse myelitis (“TM”). Stipulation ¶ 2, 4, filed Aug. 3, 2016. Further, petitioner
alleged that he experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Id. at ¶ 4.

       On August 3, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should

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.

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be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccination caused petitioner’s
alleged TM, or any other condition. Id. 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 compensation:

        A lump sum of $210,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Gene
        Michaelson. 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, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

         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.

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