Hamper v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 12-916V (Filed: May 2, 2014) ____________________________________________ LILO HAMPER, ) UNPUBLISHED ) ) Stipulation; Petitioner, ) Tetanus-diphtheria- ) acellular pertussis v. ) (Tdap); Guillain- ) Barré Syndrome SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT ) OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) UNPUBLISHED DECISION 1 On May 2, 2014, Respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Lilo Hamper on December 28, 2012. In her petition, Petitioner alleged that the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which she received on December 22, 2011, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf as a result of Ms. Hamper’s alleged vaccine-related injury. Stipulation at ¶¶ 2, 4, 5.

Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this order on the United States Court of Federal Claims website, in accordance with the E- Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, “the entire” order will be available to the public. Id. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused Ms. Hamper to suffer GBS or any other injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Damages awarded in that stipulation include: A lump sum payment of $135,000.00 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.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 12-916V according to this decision and the attached stipulation. 2 Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Camille Collett, at (202) 357-6361.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Lisa Hamilton Fieldman Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.