Lee v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided June 9, 2021·No. 19-1709·Unpublished

Opinion

In the Anited States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1709V

(not to be published) Hk ok Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok oe ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok * ANGELA LEE, : * Filed: April 22, 2021 Petitioner, * * * V. * Decision by Stipulation; Damages; * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-Barré SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND : syndrome (“GBS”). HUMAN SERVICES, . * Respondent. * * *

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David Carney, Green & Schafle LLC, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner Emilie Williams, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION!

On November 9, 2019, Angela Lee (“Petitioner”) filed a petition, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”).” Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges she developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the alternative, that her alleged GBS was caused by the flu vaccination she received on October 3, 2017; she further alleges that she experienced residual effects of this condition for more than six months. See Stipulation { 2, 4, dated April 22, 2021 (ECF No. 33); see also Petition.

' Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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 Decision in its present form will be available. Jd.

* The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10-34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa. Respondent denies “that petitioner sustained a Table injury, and denies that the flu vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”), or any other injury or her current condition.” See Stipulation { 6. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation filed April 22, 2021 that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation

is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.

The stipulation awards: a lump sum of $60,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Stipulation { 8. This award represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made to Petitioner. 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.?

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Katherine E. Oler Katherine E. Oler Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice renouncing their right to seek review. IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

ANGELA LEE, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) Vv. ) No. 19-1709V

) Special Master Oler SECRETARY OF ) HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) )

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Petitioner Angela Lee (“petitioner”) 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 injuries allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on or about October 3, 2017.

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the alternative, that her alleged GBS was caused by the vaccine. She further alleges that she experienced residual effects of this condition for more than six months,

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

for damages as a result of her condition. 6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a Table injury, and denies that the flu vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”), or any other injury or her current condition.

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 9 of this Stipulation.

8. As soon 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 election 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 proceeding upon this petition.

10. Petitioner and her attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300a

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Related

§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-10-34
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34
§ 300aa-12
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B)
§ 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