In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-585V
Filed: April 10, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
DEBORAH N. COOPER, *
* Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
Petitioner, *
* Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Acute
* Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“ADEM”).
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nancy Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner.
Claudia Gangi, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
DECISION 1
On July 10, 2014, Deborah Cooper (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged
that the administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 26, 2012 caused her to
suffer from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”).
On April 9, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should
be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner’s
alleged ADEM, any other injury, or her current disabilities. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the
joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation
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
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
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 $237,500.00 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. 3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Lisa 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
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