United States Court of Federal Claims, 2014

Huffman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided December 2, 2014 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 13-666V (Not to be published)

*****************************

APRIL HUFFMAN, * Filed: November 5, 2014 as mother and natural guardian of B.C., *

Petitioner, *

* Decision by Stipulation; Damages; v. * Varicella Vaccine; Herpes Zoster

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, *

Respondent. *

***************************** Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner. Debra Begley, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 11, 2013, April Huffman, as mother and natural guardian of B.C. (a minor child), filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving the varicella vaccine on November 30, 2010, B.C. suffered from recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster (also known as shingles), and that B.C. experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

Respondent denies that the shingles vaccine caused B.C.’s shingles or any other injury. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation (filed October 31, 2014) that the issues before them can be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation (as attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.

The stipulation awards:

 An amount of $12,500.00 to purchase the annuity contract (as described in ¶ 10 of the attached stipulation), paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased.

Stipulation ¶¶ 8-10. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. ' 300aa-15(a).

I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amounts set forth above to be made 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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran Special Master

1 Because this ruling contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that 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 ruling will be available to the public. Id. 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises 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.A. ' 300aa-10 – 34 (2006)) [hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to ' 300aa of the Act. 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately) a notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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