Stewart v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: January 18, 2017 * * * * * * * * * * * * * JAMIE LEE STEWART, * No. 12-776v * Petitioner, * UNPUBLISHED OPINION * v. * Decision on Damages; Joint * Stipulation; Chronic Inflammatory SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Demyelinating Neuropathy (“CIDP”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, P.A., Washington, D.C. for petitioner. Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Gowen, Special Master: On November 14, 2012, Jamie Lee Stewart (“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” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that as a result of 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in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 delete medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will delete 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). 1 an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on or about October 5, 2010, he developed chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (“CIDP”). Stipulation at ¶ 4. On January 18, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation stating that compensation should be awarded to petitioner. Respondent denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged CIDP or any other injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the 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. Petitioner shall receive the following compensation: 1) A lump sum payment of $763,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner Jamie Lee Stewart. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with the parties’ stipulation.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2