Kastl v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: June 15, 2021
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DONNA KASTL, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * No. 17-43v
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v. * Special Master Dorsey
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; Tetanus-
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”);
* Transverse Myelitis (“TM”).
Respondent. *
*
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Jason P. Osteen, Dempsey & Kingsland, P.C., Kansas City, MO, for petitioner.
Adriana R. Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1
On January 11, 2017, Donna Kastl (“petitioner”) filed a petition in the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination on August 31, 2015, she developed transverse myelitis (“TM”).
Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1); Stipulation at ¶ 1.
On June 15, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation
to petitioner. Stipulation. Respondent denies that petitioner suffered from TM or any other
injury caused by her vaccine. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation,
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
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 $265,766.80, which amount represents compensation for first
year life care expenses ($65,766.80), and combined pain and suffering and past
unreimbursable expenses ($200,000.00) in the form of a check payable to
petitioner.
(2) An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described below, paid to
the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased (the “Life
Insurance Company”).
This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 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 Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth 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