Lynch v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ********************* REONA DAKOTA LYNCH, * * No. 12-676V Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * v. * Filed: June 2, 2014 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; trivalent influenza AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“flu” or “FluMist”) vaccine; * optic neuritis.

Respondent. * ********************* Alexander Laufer, Eisenhower & Laufer, P.C., Fairfax, VA, for Petitioner; Glenn Macleod, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION1 On May 30, 2014, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Reona Lynch on October 5, 2012. In her petition, Ms. Lynch alleged that the trivalent influenza (“flu” or “FluMist”) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which she received on September 26, 2009, caused her to suffer a left optic neuritis with permanent vision loss. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her alleged vaccine injury.

Respondent denies that the FluMist vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged left optic neuritis or any other injury, and further denies that her current disabilities are a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.

The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the party has 14 days to file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.

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 of $180,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Reona Dakota Lynch. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 12-676V according to this decision and the attached stipulation.2 Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Mary Holmes, at (202) 357- 6353.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran 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.

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