Zimmerman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 13-447V
Filed: August 13, 2014
Not for Publication
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ROBERT P. ZIMMERMAN, *
*
Petitioner, *
* Damages decision based on stipulation;
v. * Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
* (Tdap) vaccine; bilateral peripheral
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * neuropathy
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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Diana L. Stadelnikas Sedar, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Lynn E. Ricciardella, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On August 13, 2014, 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 bilateral
peripheral neuropathy that was caused by his May 22, 2012 receipt of Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine. Respondent denies that petitioner suffered bilateral peripheral
neuropathy or any other injury caused or aggravated by his receipt of the Tdap vaccine.
Respondent further denies that petitioner’s disabilities are sequelae of his alleged vaccine injuries.
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Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal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
$10,000.00, 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 $10,000.00 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: August 13, 2014 s/ Laura D. Millman
by Nora Beth Dorsey
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