Court Opinion

ID: 2788255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-21 05:02:20.082675+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:03:38.525859
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 99-453V
                                     Filed: February 24, 2015

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                           UNPUBLISHED
JACK SEXTON and PEDORA E. ZACHARY*
as Administrators for the Estate of N.Z.S.,  *
deceased                                     *
                                             *            Special Master Dorsey
              Petitioners,                   *
                                             *
v.                                           *
                                             *            Joint Stipulation on Damages;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                          *            Hepatitis B vaccine; Death
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          *
                                             *
              Respondent.                    *
                                             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioners.
Ryan D. Pyles, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                            DECISION1

        On July 13, 1999, Jack Sexton and Pedora Zachary (“petitioners”) filed a petition on behalf
of their minor child, N.Z.S., pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42
U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioners alleged that as a result of receiving a Hepatitis B
(“Hep B”) vaccine on or about October 8, 1992, N.Z.S. suffered from an injury that resulted in his
death on October 10, 1992. See Petition at ¶ 3.

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, 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).

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 (2006) (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.

                                                  1
        On February 24, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the Hep B vaccine caused
N.Z.S.’s alleged injury and/or any other injury, and denies that N.Z.S.’s death occurred as a result
of a vaccine-related injury. Stipulation 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 $30,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioners, Jack Sexton
       and Pedora E. Zachary, as representatives of the Estate of N.Z.S. 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 petitioners’ 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
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              Nora Beth Dorsey
                                              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.

                                                 2
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