In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-0813V Filed: December 20, 2016 UNPUBLISHED **************************** JEAN MANN, * * Petitioner, * Damages Decision Based on Stipulation v. * Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis * (“Tdap”) Vaccine; Brachial Neuritis; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * **************************** Robert Joel Krakow, Law Offices, New York, NY, for petitioner. Claudia Gangi Barnes, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On July 31, 2015, Jean Mann (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered brachial neuritis of her left shoulder as a result of receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on August 15, 2012. Petition at 4; Stipulation, filed December 20, 2016, at ¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Petition at 4; Stipulation at ¶ 5. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 11, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for brachial neuritis. On December 20, 2016, respondent filed a joint stipulation, stating that petitioner should be awarded $179,100.00. Stipulation at ¶9. 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the stipulation. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached stipulation, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $179,100.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 9. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a). Id. The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 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 can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2
Mann v. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Combined Opinion