Slusser v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

• Court: United States Court of Federal Claims
• Decided: February 19, 2025
• Docket: 21-1636V
• Status: Published

Opinion

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

************************* JOHN D. SLUSSER, JR., * No. 21-1636V * Petitioner, * * Special Master Christian J. Moran v. * * Filed: January 27, 2025 SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * ************************* Robert George Rose, Bosson Legal Group, PC, Fairfax, VA, for Petitioner; Jamica Marie Littles, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION 1

On January 27, 2025, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by petitioner, John D. Slusser, Jr., on July 29, 2021. Petitioner alleged that the influenza vaccine he received on October 12, 2018, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), caused him to suffer from injuries including but not limited to sepsis, neuroborreliosis, encephalopathy, and autoimmune encephalitis. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on petitioner’s behalf as a result of the alleged injuries.

Respondent denies that petitioner sustained sepsis, neuroborreliosis, encephalopathy and autoimmune encephalitis; and denies that the flu vaccine

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Any changes will appear in the document posted on the website. caused petitioner any other injury or petitioner’s current condition. 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 of $7,000.00 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.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

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.