T.B. v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ********************* T.B., deceased, by his mother, * No. 13-1001V CHRISTINA MOORE, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * Petitioner, * Filed: September 15, 2014 * v. * Stipulation; Diphtheria-Tetanus- * acellular Pertussis (“DTaP”); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Hepatitis B; Inactivated Poliovirus AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“IPV”); Pneumococcal Conjugate * (“Prevnar”) vaccines; encephalopathy Respondent. * or encephalitis; death. ********************* William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren et al., Memphis, TN., for Petitioner; Lindsey Corliss, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. UNPUBLISHED DECISION1 On September 11, 2014, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Christina Moore on December 18, 2013, on behalf of her child, T.B. In her petition, Ms. Moore alleges that the Diphtheria- Tetanus-acellular Pertussis (DTaP”), Hepatitis B, Inactivated Poliovirus (“IPV”) and Pneumococcal Conjugate (“Prevnar”) vaccines, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which T.B. received on or about December 20, 2012, caused him to suffer an encephalopathy or encephalitis resulting in death. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf of the Estate of T.B. as a result of his alleged injury, resulting in death. Respondent denies that the vaccines received by T.B. caused any injury or his death; and denies that T.B.’s death occurred as the result of a vaccine-related injury. 1 The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the party has 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. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as “Appendix A.” 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 payment of $1,300.00, in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner as legal representative of the Estate of T.B. and Optum, on behalf of United Healthcare Community Plan 75 Remittance Drive, Suite 6019 Chicago, IL 60675-6019 Attn: Teisha Orduno Representing compensation for satisfaction of the state of Tennessee’s Medicaid lien resulting from payments made to or on behalf of T.B. Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to Optum, and, B. A lump sum of $20,700.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner as legal representative of the Estate of T.B. This amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 13-1001V according to this decision and the attached stipulation.2 Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Mary Holmes, at (202) 357- 6353. 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. Case 1:13-vv-01001-UNJ Document 22 Filed 09/11/14 Page 1 of 5 Case 1:13-vv-01001-UNJ Document 22 Filed 09/11/14 Page 2 of 5 5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf of the Estate of T.B. as a result of his alleged injury, resulting in death. 6. Respondent denies that the vaccines received by T.B. caused any injury or his death; and denies that T.B.’s death occurred as the result of a vaccine-related injury. 7. Maintaining their above-stated 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 petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payments: a. A lump sum of $1,300.00 in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioner as legal representative of the Estate of T.B. and Optum, on behalf of United Healthcare Community Plan, 75 Remittance Drive, Suite 6019 Chicago, IL 60675-6019 Attn: Teisha Orduno, Representing compensation for satisfaction of the State of Tennessee’s Medicaid lien resulting from payments made to or on behalf of T.B. Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to Optum; and b. A lump sum of $20,700.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner as legal representative of the Estate of T.B. This amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings Case 1:13-vv-01001-UNJ Document 22 Filed 09/11/14 Page 3 of 5 Case 1:13-vv-01001-UNJ Document 22 Filed 09/11/14 Page 4 of 5 Case 1:13-vv-01001-UNJ Document 22 Filed 09/11/14 Page 5 of 5