Oberle v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2014 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 13-381V
(E-Filed: May 12, 2014)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WILLIAM OBERLE, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * Special Master
* Hamilton-Fieldman
v. *
* Influenza Vaccination;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * Optic Neuritis; Decision; Stipulation.
HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Edward M. Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS1
On June 7, 2013, Petitioner, William Oberle, filed a petition seeking compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (Athe Vaccine Program@).
Petitioner alleged that he suffered optic neuritis, as a result of receiving an influenza
vaccination received on December 20, 2011.2
1
Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in
this case, the undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ website, 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.” Otherwise, “the
entire” decision will be available to the public. Id.
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.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002) (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 Petitioner’s influenza vaccination caused his optic neuritis
and/or any other injury. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining their above stated
positions, agreed in a Stipulation, filed May 9, 2014, (“Stipulation”) that the issues before
them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner
compensation.
The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of
the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The stipulation awards:
A lump sum of $180,000.00 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) to which Petitioner would be entitled; and
Stipulation ¶ 8(a).
The parties further stipulated that they had reached the following agreement with
respect to attorneys’ fees and costs:
A lump sum of $24, 808.43, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and
Petitioner’s attorney, Edward Kraus, Esq., for attorneys’ fees and costs. In
accordance with General Order No. 9, Petitioner represents that he incurred no
out-of-pocket expenses in proceeding on the petition.
Stipulation ¶8(b).
The undersigned approves the requested amounts for Petitioner’s compensation.
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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
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