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

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-395V
Filed: March 18, 2015
Not for Publication
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SHERI SWIGERT, *
*
Petitioner, *
*
* Damages decision based on stipulation;
v. * influenza (flu) vaccine; transverse myelitis;
* multiple sclerosis
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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Amber D. Wilson, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Ryan D. Pyles, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On March 17, 2015, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle
this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that she suffered transverse
myelitis and/or multiple sclerosis that was caused by her October 11, 2013 receipt of influenza
(“flu”) vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this injury for
more than six months. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged
transverse myelitis, alleged multiple sclerosis, and/or any other injury. Nonetheless, the parties
1
Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made
available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review,
agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall
delete such material from public access.
agreed to resolve this matter informally.
The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby
adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards a lump sum of
$131,000.00, representing reimbursement for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(a) (2006). The award shall be in the form of a check payable to petitioner in the
amount of $131,000.00.
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.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: March 18, 2015 s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2