Jones v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided February 23, 2022·No. 19-23·Unpublished

Opinion

In the Gnited States Court of Federal Clans

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

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LESIA JONES, * * No. 19-23V Petitioner, ** Special Master Christian J. Moran Ed V. ** Filed: February 1, 2022 Ed SECRETARY OF HEALTH ** Stipulation; Hepatitis B vaccine; AND HUMAN SERVICES, ** varicella vaccine; post-herpetic * neuralgia. Respondent. * ke RK KK KKK KK KR KK KR KK OK KOK

Milton C. Ragsdale, IV, Ragsdale LLC, Birmingham, AL, for Petitioner; Alexa Roggenkamp, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION'

On February 1, 2022, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Lesia Jones on January 4, 2019. Petitioner alleged that the Hepatitis B and varicella vaccines she received on or about September 7, 2016, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), caused her to suffer from post-herpetic neuralgia. Petitioner further alleges that she 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 her behalf as a result of her condition.

Respondent denies that the vaccines caused petitioner alleged injuries or any or injury or petitioner’s current disabilities.

' 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. 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 lump sum payment of $60,000.00 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).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached stipulation.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

* 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. IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

LESIA JONES,

Petitioner, No. 19-23V Special Master Moran Vv. ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

|. Petitioner, Lesia Jones, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (the “Vaccine Program”). The petition seeks compensation for injurics allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt of hepatitis B and varicella vaccines, which vaccines are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. Petitioner received the vaccines on or about September 7, 2016.

3. The vaccines were administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained injuries, including post-herpetic neuralgia, asa result of receiving the vaccines, and further alleges that she experienced residual effects of these alleged injures for more than six months.

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages arising out of the alleged vaccine injury.

6. Respondent denies that the vaccines caused petitioner's alleged injuries or any -l- other mjury or petitioner’s current disabilities.

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 awarding the compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

8. Assoon as 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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $60,000.00 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).

9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely clection to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in any proceeding upon this petition,

10. Petitioner and petitioner’s attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily hable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under any State compensation 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 by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis, and represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or

services tor which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g).

2. 1. Payment(s) made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable expenses, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300a

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Related

§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-12
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)
§ 300aa-21
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1)
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a