Wallen v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-209V
Filed: January 13, 2015
Not for Publication
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STEPHEN WALLEN, *
*
Petitioner, *
* Damages decision based on stipulation;
v. * tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
* vaccine; Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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F. John Caldwell, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Julia W. McInerny, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On January 13, 2015, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle
this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that he suffered from
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) that was caused by his receipt of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on July 5, 2011. He further alleges that he experienced the residual
effects of this injury for more than six months. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused
petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter
informally.
1
Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made
available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and
move to delete such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review,
agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall
delete such material from public access.
The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby
adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards a lump sum of
$100,000.00, representing compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(a) (2006). The award shall be in the form of a check for $100,000.00 made payable to
petitioner.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the
court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 13, 2015 s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2