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

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-222V
Filed: December 2, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * ** * UNPUBLISHED
MELVIN KEITH CASTLE, *
*
Petitioner, * Special Master Gowen
*
v. * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
* Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Neuropathy; Thrombocytopenia;
* Lymphadenopathy; Central
Respondent. * Vestibular System Impariment
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
William E. Cochran, Black MacLaren, et al., PC, Memphis, TN, for petitioner.
Lara A. Englund, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On March 4, 2015, Melvin Keith Castle (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012).
Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving a Tdap vaccine on January 24, 2014, he suffered
neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, central vestibular system impairment, and
other injuries. Petition at Preamble.
On December 1, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine is the cause
of petitioner’s alleged neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, central vestibular
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, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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.
1
system impairment, or any other injury or his current condition. Stipulation at ¶ 6. 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 in compensation:
a. A lump sum of $20,000.00 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).
Id. at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms
of 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 is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2