Steiger v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Mn the Guited States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: March 26, 2021 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Ok OK Ok KK Ok Ok Ok Ok OK OK OK OK OK OK OK SHAWN STEIGER, * No. 19-775V * Petitioner, * Special Master Sanders V. ** * Stipulation for Award; Tetanus- SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Diphtheria-Acellular-Pertussis (“Tdap”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine; Guillain-Barré Syndrome K (“GB S”) Respondent. ** OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Ok OK Ok KK Ok Ok Ok Ok OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Michael G. McLaren, Black McLaren, PC, Memphis, TN, for Petitioner. Ronalda E. Kosh, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION! On May 24, 2019, Shawn Steiger (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012); Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleged that the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine he received on June 23, 2018, caused him to suffer from “Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”)...and/or other neurologic and physical impairments and other injuries.” /d.; see also Stip. at 1, ECF No. 30. Petitioner further alleged that he experienced the residual effects of his injury for more than six months. Stip. at 1. On March 26, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to Petitioner. /d. at 2. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused Petitioner’s alleged GBS, or any other injury. /d. Respondent further denies that Petitioner’s “current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” /d. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. I find the stipulation reasonable and adopt it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. ' This Decision shall be posted 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)). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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). * National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. The parties stipulate that Petitioner shall receive the following compensation: A lump sum of $145,000.00 in the form of a check payable to [P]etitioner, which represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)[.] Td. I approve 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 Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation. * IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Herbrina D. Sanders Herbrina D. Sanders Special Master > Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) SHAWN STEIGER, ) ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 19-775V v. ) Special Master Sanders ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 1. Shawn Steiger (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (the “Vaccine Program”). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt of the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”’), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). 2. Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on June 23, 2018. 3. The vaccine was administered in the United States. 4. Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving the Tdap vaccine, he suffered Guillain- Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and/or other injuries. He further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of his alleged injuries for more than six months. 1 of 6 5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of his alleged condition. 6. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from GBS, CIDP, or any other injury; and denies that his current condition is a sequelae 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 payment: A lump sum of $145,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, which represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1 5(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 before the special master to award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this petition. 10. Petitioner and his attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or State 2 of 6 health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.)), or entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis. 11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation, and any amount awarded pursuant to paragraph 9, will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds. 12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h). 13. In return for the payments described in paragraph 8, and any amount awarded pursuant to paragraph 9, petitioner, in his individual capacity, and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors, or assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or could be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or tinsuspected personal injuries to or death of petitioner resulting from, or alleged to have resulted from the Tdap vaccine administered on June 23, 2018, as alleged in a Petition filed on May 24, 2019, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-775V. 14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be voidable 3 of 6 upon proper notice of the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties. 15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation or if the United States Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties’ settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party. 16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the parties hereto to make any payment or do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties’ respective positions as to liability and/or amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the items of compensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement. 17. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS, CIDP, any other injury, or his current condition. 18. All rights and obligations of petitioner shall apply equally to petitioner’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. END OF STIPULATION 4 of 6 Respectfully submitted, PETITIONER: KA AY SHAWN STEIGER / ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR PETITIONER: Yu Ween), UD Ye. MICHAEL G. MCLAREN’ CHRIS J. WEBB Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee $30 Oak Court Drive, Suite 360 Memphis, Tennessee Tel (901) 762-0535 Fax (901) 762-0539 mmclaren@blackmclaw.com cwebb@blackmclw.com AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: CAPT Dale P. Mishler, DSc, APRN, for TAMARA OVERBY, M.D. Acting Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs Healthcare Systems Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 5600 Fishers Lane Mail Stop 08-N146B Rockville, MD 20857 5 of 6 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: Cu do tiw eAPe er HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Acting Deputy Director Torts Branch Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR RESPONDENT: Peete CeuiA RONALDA E. KOSH Trial Attommey Torts Branch Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 (202) 616-4476 ronalda.kosh@usdoj.gov Dated: 03)z2!207 | 6 of 6