Bray v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: January 20, 2016 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED LISA A. BRAY, * * No. 10-207V Petitioner, * * v. * Special Master Dorsey * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Joint Stipulation on Damages; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine; Hepatitis * B Vaccine; Guillain-Barré Syndrome Respondent. * (“GBS”). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Franklin John Caldwell, Jr., Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner. Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION1 On April 7, 2010, Lisa Bray (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). The undersigned determined that petitioner received an influenza vaccination on December 2, 2008. See Ruling Regarding Findings of Fact dated September 16, 2014, (ECF No. 74). Petitioner also received a Hepatitis B vaccination on February 10, 2009. See Petition at ¶ 5. Petitioner alleges that she developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving the influenza and/or Hepatitis B vaccines. See id. at ¶¶ 7, 10. 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 (2012)). 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 (2012) (“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. On January 20, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they stated that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the influenza and/or the Hepatitis B vaccines caused petitioner’s alleged GBS 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 in the amount of $305,000.00 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 dated January 20, 2016, (ECF No. 96) at ¶ 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/ Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief 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.