Dahl v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided April 20, 2017·No. 13-98·Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** * RICHARD T. DAHL, by his legal * guardian, * No. 13-098V CARRIE BARTH, mother * * Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * v. * Filed: March 24, 2017 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”). * Respondent. * ******************** *

Kate G. Westad, Larkin Hoffman, et al. Ltd., Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner; Linda S. Renzi, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

On March 24, 2017, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Carrie Barth, as mother and legal guardian of Richard T. Dahl, on February 5, 2013. In her petition, petitioner alleged that the influenza vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which Richard received on November 2, 2011, caused Richard to suffer Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), and other adverse injuries. Petitioner further alleges that Richard suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on Richard’s behalf as a result of his condition.

1 The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website. Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused Richard to suffer GBS or any other injury.

Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

a. A lump sum of $25,000.00, for reimbursement to the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services for the Medical Lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and

Attn: Britt M. Graupner Tort Recovery Unit Manager Benefit Recovery Section Minnesota Department of Human Services P.O. Box 64994 St. Paul, MN 55164-0994

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

b. A lump sum payment of $248,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, as guardian/conservator of Richard Dahl’s estate.

This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 13-098V according to this decision and the attached stipulation.2

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.

2 Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Dan Hoffman, at (202) 357- 6360.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran Special Master

3 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERA L CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPEC IAL MASTERS

R IC HARD T. DAHL, by his legal guard ian, ) CA RRI E BARTH, mother, ) ECF ) No. 13-98V Petitioner, ) Special Master Moran V. ) ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AN D HUMAN SE RVI CES, ) ) Respondent. )

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the fo llowing matters:

I. Carri e Barth, as mother and lega l guardi an of Richard T. Dah l, ("'petitioner") filed a

petiti on for vaccine compen sation under the ati onal Vacci ne Injury Compensation Program. 42

U.. C. § 300aa- IO to 34 (the ·'Vaccin e Program ..). The petition seeks compensati on fo r

Richard·s injuries allegedly related to th e seasonal in fluen za ("' Ou ") vaccin e, which vaccine is

contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Tab le'"), 42 C.F.R. § I 00.3 (a).

2. Richard received his vaccinati on on November 2, 20 11 .

3. The vaccination was admin istered within th e United States.

4. Petitioner all eges that Richard suffered Guill ai n-Barre Syndrome ("GBS .. ), and other

adverse injuries as a result of the vacci ne, and that Richard experienced the res idual effects of

these injuries fo r more than six months.

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

fo r damage on Richard·s behalf as a result of hi s cond ition.

6. Respondent denies that Richard suffe red GBS or any other inj ury as the result of hi s

November 2, 20 11 flu vacc ination. and denies th at hi s cu rrent condition is the sequela o f hi s alleged vaccine injury.

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 award ing the

compensation described in paragraph 8 of thi s Stipulation.

8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with

the terms of this tipulati on. and a fter petitioner has fil ed an election to rece ive compensation

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § JOOaa-2 1(a)( I), the Secretary of Hea lth and Hum an Services wil l issue

the fo llowing vaccine compensation payments:

a. A lump sum o f$25. 000.00, fo r reimbursement to th e State of Minnesota Department of Hum an Services fo r the Medical Li en, in the fo rm of a check payabl e j ointl y to petitioner and

/\ttn.: Britt M. Graupner Tort Recovery Unit Manager Benefit Recovery Sect ion Minnesota Departm ent of Hum an Services P.O. Box 64994 St. Paul. MN 55 164-0994

Petitioner agrees to endorse thi s payment to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

b. A lum p sum of $248,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, as guardian/conse rvator of Richard Dahl' s estate.

This amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be ava ilable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l 5(a).

9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case. and after

Petit ioner has fi led both a proper and tim ely electi on to receive compensation pursuant to

42 U.S .C. § 300aa-2 I (a)( I), and an application, the parties wiII submit to furth er proceed in gs

before the spec ial master to award reasonable attorneys· fees and costs incurred in proceeding

upon this petition.

2 I0. Petiti oner and her attorn ey represent that they have identified to respondent al I

known sources of payment for item s or services for which the Program is not primarily liable

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(g), including State compensation programs. insurance poli cies.

Federal or State health benefits programs (oth er than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42

U.S.C. § 1396 el seq.)).

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Related

§ 300aa-
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
§ 300aa-12
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)
§ 300aa-2
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2
§ 300aa-l
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a