Court Opinion

ID: 2652746
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-10 15:31:19.040231+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:50.813375
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                     No. 13-287V
                              (E-Filed: January 16, 2014)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHRISTINA N. STEINAT,       *                     UNPUBLISHED
                            *
             Petitioner,    *                     Special Master
                            *                     Nora Beth Dorsey
          v.                *
                            *                     Influenza Vaccination;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND     *                     Brachial Neuritis; Decision;
 HUMAN SERVICES,            *                     Stipulation.
                            *
             Respondent.    *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Douglas Lee Burdette, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.
Alexis Babcock, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                         DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 24, 2013, Petitioner, Christina Steinat, filed a petition seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (Athe Vaccine
Program@). Petitioner alleged that she suffered brachial neuritis, as a result of receiving
an influenza vaccination.2

       1
          Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s
action in this case, the undersigned intends 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)). 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). Otherwise, “the entire” decision
will be available to the public. Id.
       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.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002)

                                              1
        Respondent denies that Petitioner’s influenza vaccination caused Petitioner’s
brachial neuritis, and/or any other injury. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining
their above stated positions, agreed in a Stipulation, filed January 15, 2014,
(“Stipulation”) that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be
entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

      The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of
the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       The stipulation awards:

       A lump sum of $100,000.00 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) to which Petitioner would be
       entitled; and

Stipulation ¶ 8 (a).

       A lump sum of $16,761.49 in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and
       Petitioner’s attorney, for attorneys’ fees and costs available under 42 U.S.C. §
       300aa-15(e), and in compliance with General Order # 9, no out-of-pocket
       expenses were incurred by Petitioner in proceeding on the petition.

Stipulation ¶ 8 (b).

       The undersigned approves the requested amounts for Petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                  s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                  Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                  Special Master

(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.
       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