Meyer v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 14-399V (Not to be published)

***************************** * DANIELLE N. MEYER, * * Petitioner, * Filed: September 29, 2015 * v. * Decision by Stipulation; Damages; * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; * Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * ***************************** Gregory Coleman, Greg Coleman Law, PC, Knoxville, TN, for Petitioner.

Linda Renzi, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On May 9, 2014, Petitioner Danielle N. Meyer filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain- Barré Syndrome, and related complications, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine.

Respondent denies that Petitioner’s medical problems were caused by the receipt of the flu vaccine. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation filed September 29, 2015, that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107- 347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002) (current version at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2014)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the posted decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under 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). Otherwise, the whole decision will be available to the public. (Id.) 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. 3758, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa-10 to ' 300aa-34 (2012). 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 $600,000.00, 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).

Stipulation ¶ 8.

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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran 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.

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