Carter v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: November 19, 2019
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JOYCE CARTER, *
* UNPUBLISHED
*
*
Petitioner, * No. 17-1617V
*
v. * Special Master Dorsey
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine; Acute
* Demyelinating Encephalomyelitis
Respondent. * (“ADEM”).
*
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Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1
On October 27, 2017, Joyce Carter (“petitioner”) filed a petition in the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that she developed acute demyelinating
encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”) due to the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on February 25,
2016. Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1).
1
Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned is required 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). This means the Decision will
be available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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
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. § 300aa.
1
On November 18, 2019, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of
compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 36). Respondent denies that the flu vaccine
caused petitioner to suffer from ADEM or any other injury. 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 compensation:
(1) A lump sum of $75,000.00 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). Stipulation at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora B. Dorsey
Nora B. Dorsey
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