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

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 12-871V
Filed: May 4, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
KRISTEN OLSON, *
* Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
Petitioner, *
* Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
* Chronic Inflammatory
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“CIDP”).
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Scott W. Rooney, Nemes, Rooney P.C., Farmington Hills, MI, for Petitioner.
Gordon Shemin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
DECISION1
On December 13, 2012, Kristen England2 (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.3 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006).
Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
(“CIDP”)/Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an Influenza (“Flu”) vaccine
administered to her on October 6, 2011. Petition (“Pet”) at 1-2.
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
An Order amending the case caption was granted on June 7, 2013 and on April 13, 2015.
3
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 or aggravated Petitioner’s CIDP and/or
any other 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 $85,000.00, 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.
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.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Special Master
4
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