Joyce Ruth Culbertson v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 12-34V
Filed: November 21, 2013
Not for Publication
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JOYCE RUTH CULBERTSON, *
* Damages decision based on stipulation;
Petitioner, * influenza vaccine; Guillain-Barré syndrome
*
*
v. *
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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Larry C. Brandt, Walhalla, SC, for petitioner.
Linda S. Renzi, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On November 21, 2013, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to
settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that she suffered
Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that was caused by her October 15, 2011, receipt of influenza
(“flu”) vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this injury for
more than six months. Respondent denies that flu vaccine caused petitioner’s GBS, or any other
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Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal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’s 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.
injury, and further denies that her current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.
Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.
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. a lump sum of $243,747.34, representing compensation for first year life care expenses
($42,695.18), pain and suffering ($177,879.01), and past unreimbursable expenses
($23,173.15). The award shall be in the form of a check for $243,747.34 made payable to
petitioner; and
b. an amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the
attached stipulation.
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: November 21, 2013 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