Shea v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2017 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
(Filed: December 1, 2017)
No. 16-1043V
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
LANESIA SHEA, mother and next *
friend of A.S., a minor, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * Decision on Joint Stipulation;
* Optic Neuritis; Influenza
v. * (“Flu”) Vaccine.
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Donald Gerstein, Esq., Richard Gage, P.C., Cheyenne, WY, for petitioner.
Claudia Gangi, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Roth, Special Master:
On August 23, 2016, Lanesia Shea (“Ms. Shea or “petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 on behalf of her minor
child, A.S. Petitioner alleges that A.S. developed optic neuritis after receiving an influenza
1
Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I
intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, 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)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party
has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria
in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for
redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified
material fits within the requirements of that provision, 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
vaccine on or about September 19, 2014. See Stipulation, filed December 1, 2017, at ¶¶ 1-4.
Respondent denies that the aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation
at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On December 1, 2017, the parties
filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.
Respondent agrees to issue the following payment:
A lump sum of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Lanesia
Shea, as guardian/conservator of A.S.’s estate. This amount represents
compensation for all damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a).
I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount
and on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in
accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
Mindy Michaels Roth
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