Mintz v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2015 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-476V
Filed: May 13, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
MARCIE MINTZ, *
*
Petitioner, *
* Special Master Dorsey
v. *
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
* Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Transverse
Respondent. * Myelitis (TM)
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tara O’Mahoney, Law Offices of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, for petitioner.
Michael Milmoe, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION1
On June 4, 2014, Marcie Mintz (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged
that, as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on November 17, 2012, she suffered from
transverse myelitis. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleged that she suffered the residual effects
or complications of this vaccine injury for more than six months. Id. at 8. On May 13, 2015, the
parties filed a stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation.
1
Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by
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).
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. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
1
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged transverse myelitis, or
any other injury, and further denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-
related injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as
Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of
the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
A lump sum of $275,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner representing all
damages available under 42 U.S.C. 300aa-15(a).
Stipulation ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Special Master
3
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2