Cockrell, Jr v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 14-538V Filed: September 18, 2015 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED JAMES HARRISON COCKRELL, JR., * * Special Master Gowen Petitioner, * * Joint Stipulation on Damages; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; * Guillian-Barré Syndrome; CIDP.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Milton C. Ragsdale, IV, Ragsdale LLC, Birmingham, AL, for petitioner.

Linda S. Renzi, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On June 24, 2014, James Harrison Cockrell, Jr. (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006).

Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on January 7, 2013, he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”). Stipulation ¶ 2, 4, filed Sep. 17, 2015. Further, petitioner alleged that he experienced residual effects of his injury for more than six months. Petition at ¶ 17.

Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this ruling 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 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).

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, U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.

On September 17, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccination caused petitioner’s GBS, CIDP, or any other condition. Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, 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 undersigned awards petitioner the following compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a): 1. A lump sum payment of $335,942.65 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, James Harrison Cockrell, Jr.; and 2. An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract to provide the benefits described in paragraph 10 of the stipulation, to be paid to a life insurance company meeting the criteria described in paragraph 9.

Id. at ¶ 8.

The clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3 IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.