Castillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ********************* JAMES CASTILLO, * * No. 12-283V Petitioner, * Special Master Moran * v. * Filed: July 28, 2014 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; Hepatitis B vaccinations; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * transverse myelitis (“TM”). * Respondent. * ********************* Monika A. Hartl, Worker’s Compensation Law Offices of Milwaukee, SC, Milwaukee, WI, for Petitioner; Julia W. McInerny, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. UNPUBLISHED DECISION1 On July 23, 2014, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by James Castillo on May 4, 2012. In his petition, Mr. Castillo alleged that the hepatitis B vaccines, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which he received on May 11, 2009 and June 11, 2009, caused him to suffer transverse myelitis (“TM”). Petitioner further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition. Respondent denies that the hepatitis B vaccines caused petitioner’s TM or any other 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 $353,766.03, representing compensation for first year life care expenses ($18,834.82), lost earnings ($141,243.21), pain and suffering ($175,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($18,688.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, James Castillo; and B. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the attached stipulation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 12-283V 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. 2 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 1 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 2 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 3 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 4 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 5 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 6 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 7 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 8 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00283-UNJ Document 65 Filed 07/23/14 Page 9 of 9