United States Court of Federal Claims, 2016

Hidalgo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 7, 2016 · Christian J. Moran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************* * * LAURA HIDALGO, * No. 13-555V

* Special Master Christian J. Moran Petitioner, *

* Filed: November 24, 2015 v. *

* Stipulation; trivalent influenza (“flu”) SECRETARY OF HEALTH * vaccine; tetanus-diphtheria-acellular AND HUMAN SERVICES, * pertussis (“Tdap”); human

* papillomavirus (“HPV”); panic, Respondent. * anxiety, agoraphobia, and headaches.

****************** ** * Kate G. Westad, Lommen Abdo, P.A., Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner; Lara A. Englund, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

On November 19, 2015, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Laura Hidalgo on August 7, 2013. In her petition, Ms. Hidalgo alleged that the trivalent influenza (“flu”), tetanus- diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”), and human papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccines, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which she received a flu vaccine on or about September 21, 2011 and Tdap and HPV vaccines on or about September 30, 20112, caused her to develop panic, anxiety, and agoraphobia, and exacerbated her pre-existing headaches. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of these injuries for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her condition.

Respondent denies that the vaccines are the cause of petitioner’s panic, anxiety, agoraphobia, or headaches, or any other injury or her current condition.

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:

A lump sum of $15,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Laura Hidalgo, representing 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 13-555V according to this decision and the attached stipulation.3

Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Dan Hoffman, at (202) 357- 6360.

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran Special Master

1 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. 2 Ms. Hidalgo also received a pneumococcal vaccine on September 30, 2011. Pet. at 1. But that vaccine, which is not a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is not included in the Vaccine Injury Table. See 42 C.F.R. § 100.3. 3 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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