Swintosky v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedJanuary 13, 2017
Docket12-403
StatusUnpublished

This text of Swintosky v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Swintosky v. Secretary of Health and Human Services) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Swintosky v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, (uscfc 2017).

Opinion

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

********************* ERIC SWINTOSKY and * HEATHER SWINTOSKY, as * No. 12-403V parents and natural guardians of * Special Master Christian J. Moran their daughter, C.M.S., * * Filed: December 19, 2016 Petitioners, * * Stipulation; influenza (“flu”); v. * acute hemorrhagic * leukoencephalomyelitis (“AHLE”). SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * *********************

Anne Carrion Toale, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioner; Claudia B. Gangi, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

On December 15, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Eric and Heather Swintosky, as parents and natural guardians of their daughter C.M.S., on June 22, 2012. In their petition, petitioners allege that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which C.M.S. received on September 9, 2009, caused her to suffer a stroke and develop acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalomyelitis (“AHLE”). Petitioners further allege that C.M.S. experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioners

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. represent that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf of C.M.S. as a result of her condition.

Respondent denies that C.M.S. suffered a stroke or developed AHLE as a result of her immunization and denies that the flu vaccine caused her 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 $617,027.40, which amount represents compensation for first year life care expenses ($206,402.40) and trust seed funds ($410,625.00), in the form of a check payable to Counsel Trust Company, as trustee of the grantor reversionary trust established for the benefit of C.M.S.;

b. A lump sum of $1,089,257.36, which amount represents compensation for lost future earnings ($839,257.36) and pain and suffering ($250,000.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioners as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of C.M.S. for the benefit of C.M.S. No payments shall be made until petitioners provide respondent with documentation establishing that they have been appointed as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of C.M.S.’s estate;

c. A lump sum payment of $4,779.49, which amount represents compensation for past reimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable to petitioners, Eric Swintosky and Heather Swintosky; and

d. A lump sum of $50,728.71, which amount represents reimbursement of a lien for services rendered on behalf of C.M.S., in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioners and

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Division of Third Party Liability

2 Recovery Section P.O. Box 8486 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8486 Attn: Barbara Witmer CIS No: 990624514

Petitioners agree to endorse this payment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

e. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased (the “Life Insurance Company”).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 12-403V 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.

3 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

ERIC and HEATHER SWINTOSKY, as ) Parents and Natural Guardians of their ) Daughter, C.M.S., . ) ) Petitioners, ) No. 12-403V v. ) Special Master Moran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) ~----~---R__es~p_o_n_d_en_t_·~--------~ ) STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. On behalf of their daughter, C.M.S, petitioners filed a petition for vaccine

compen~ation 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 C .M.S.'s receipt of the flu vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the

V accine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. C .M .S. received her immunization on or about September 19, 2009.

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

4 . Petitioners allege that C .M.S. suffered a stroke and developed acute hemorrhagic

leukoencephalomyelitis ("AHLE") as a result of her immunization. Petitioners further allege

that C.M.S. experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

5. Petitioners represent that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on behalfof C.M.S. as a result of her condition.

-1- 6. Respondent denies that C.M.S. suffered a stroke or developed AHLE as a result of her

immunization and denies that the flu vaccine caused her any other injury.

7. Maintaining their above-staled 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. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with

the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioners have filed an election to receive compensation

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payments :

a. A lwnp sum of $617 ,027.40, which amount represents compensation for first year life care expenses ($206,402.40) and trust seed funds ($4 10,625.00), in the form of a check payable to Counsel Trust Company, as trustee of the grantor reversionary trust established for the benefit of C .M.S.;

b. A lump sum of$1 ,089,257 .36, which amow1t represents compensation for lost future earnings ($839,257.36) and pain and suffering ($250,000.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioners as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of C.M.S. for the benefit of C.M.S. No payments shall be made until petitioners provide respondent with .

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Related

§ 300aa-1
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-12
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)
§ 300aa-1S
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1S(a)
§ 300aa-2l
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l)
§ 300aa-l
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l
§ 300an-15
42 U.S.C. § 300an-15(g)
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a

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Swintosky v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swintosky-v-secretary-of-health-and-human-services-uscfc-2017.