Bell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedJanuary 10, 2017
Docket16-407
StatusUnpublished

This text of Bell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Bell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, (uscfc 2017).

Opinion

REISSUED FOR PUBLICATION

ORIGIN l JAN 10 2017 OSM U.S. COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

3ln tbe Wniteb ~tate~ ~ourt of jfeberal ~laim~ OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-407V Originally Filed: January 5, 2017 FILED Refiled in Redacted Form: January 10, 2017 Not for Publication JAN 10 2017 U.S. COURT OF ************************************* FEDERAL CLAIMS S.B., * * * Damages and costs decision based Petitioner, * on stipulation; Tetanus, diphtheria, · * and acellular pertussis ("Tdap") V. * vaccine; shoulder injury related to * vaccine administration ("SIRVA") SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * ************************************* S.B., Chicago, IL, prose. Debra A. Filteau Begley, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

DECISION A WARDING DAMAGES AND LITIGATION COSTS 1

On January 4, 2017, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner received Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine on July 1, 2014. Petitioner alleges that her receipt of the Tdap vaccine caused her to suffer a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA"). Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Respondent denies that petitioner's SIRVA, or any other injury, was caused by her Tdap vaccination. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.

1 When this decision was originally filed the undersigned advised her intent to post it on the United States Comt of Federal Claims' website, in ac.cordance with the E-Government Act of2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule l 8(b), petitioner filed a timely motion to redact certain information. This decision is being reissued without petitioner's full name. The stipulation attached to this decision has also been redacted to remove petitioner's name, signature, and address. Except for those changes and this footnote, no other substantive changes have been made. This decision will be posted on the court's website with no further opportunity to move for redaction. The court finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable, adopts the parties' stipulation, and awards compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth in the stipulation. Pursuant to the attached stipulation, the court awards $70,000.00 for reimbursement for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) (2012).

The parties have also agreed on an appropriate amount for litigation costs in this case. Petitioner requests $704.37 in costs. Respondent does not object to this amount. The undersigned finds this amount to be reasonable.

Accordingly, the court awards:

a. a lump sum of $70,000.00, representing compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The award shall be in the form ofa check made payable to petitioner in the amount of $70,000.00; and

b. a lump sum of$704.37, representing reimbursement for petitioner's litigation costs. The award shall be in the form of a check made payable to petitioner in the amount of $704.37.

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. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

. Dated: January 10, 2017 cfA UJLA__ Q_, ~ Laura D. Millman Special Master

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11 (a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 case 1:16-vv-00401-uNJ ORrGJ~~1[ 01104111 Page 1of6 FILED JAN~~ 2017 OSI/I U.S. COURT OF IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF li'EDERAL CLAIMS Fl!DEllAI. CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

) ) Petitioner, ) No. 16-407V ) SPllCIAL MASTER v. ) LAURA D. MILLMAN ) SECRETARY OF HEAL'.J:H ) AND lnJMAN SERVlCES, ) RECEIVED ) FROM NIGHTBOX Respondent. ) ~~.~~~~~~~~.> ,JJ'.N U.:J 2017 Unite~ 6tlitGt court ot Appeals for The Federal Circuit The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

I. Petitioner tiled a petition for vaccine compensation undct· the National Vaccine

Injury Compensation Prog1•um, 42 U.S.C. ~ :lOOaa-10 to 34 (th~ "Vaccine Program"). The

petition seeks compensation for lnjmlcs allegedly related to petltlono1·'s rocelpt of the Tetanus, diphtheria, and ac~Jlula1· pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which vaccine is contained In the Vaccine

Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.P.R. § l00.3(n).

2. Petitioner received a Tdnp immunization on July I, 2014.

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered n shoulder injury rotated to vaccine

administration ("SIRVA") that was caused-In-fact by her Tdap vncolnatlon and that she has

suffered the 1·eslduul effeQts of this injury for l\lOl'O tl1an six months.

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil

action for damages 011 hot• behalf as a result of her condition.

RECEIVED - U!lCFC

.JAN ~ 4 2017 Case 1:16-w-00407-UNJ Document 14 Filed 01/04/17 Page 2 of 6

6. Respondent denies that petitioner's alleged SIRVA, or any othel' injury, was caused-in-fact by bet· Tdap vaccination.

7. Malntainlngtheit· above-stated positions, the parties neverthell)Ss now agi-ee that

the Issues between them shall be settled and that n decision should be entered awarding the

compensation desot'ibed in pnragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

8. As soon ns 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-2l(a)(l), th~ Secretary of Health and Human

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payments:

a. A lump sum of$70,00().00 in the form ofa check payable to petitioner. This amount repl'esents compensation for all damages that would be avallable imder 42 U.S.C. § 300aa·l5(a), and

b. A lump sum of$704.37 In the form of a chock payable to petitioner, for litigation costs available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).

9. Petitioner represents that she has ldentlfled to respondent all known sources of

payment fo1· items or services forwhioh the Progmm ls not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-1S(g), including State c01qponsation 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 entitles that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

IO. Payments made pursuantto paragraph 8 of this Stipulation will be made in

accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(1), subject to the availability of sufficient statutmy funds.

11.

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Related

§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)
§ 300aa-1S
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1S(g)
§ 300aa-2l
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l)
§ 300aa-l5
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l5(g)
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a

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Bell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bell-v-secretary-of-health-and-human-services-uscfc-2017.