United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Castle v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 5, 2017 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 15-222V Filed: December 2, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * ** * UNPUBLISHED MELVIN KEITH CASTLE, *

Petitioner, * Special Master Gowen

v. * Joint Stipulation on Damages;

* Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Neuropathy; Thrombocytopenia;

* Lymphadenopathy; Central Respondent. * Vestibular System Impariment

* * * * * * * * * * * * * William E. Cochran, Black MacLaren, et al., PC, Memphis, TN, for petitioner. Lara A. Englund, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On March 4, 2015, Melvin Keith Castle (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving a Tdap vaccine on January 24, 2014, he suffered neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, central vestibular system impairment, and other injuries. Petition at Preamble.

On December 1, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, central vestibular system impairment, or any other injury or his current 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 parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following in compensation: a. A lump sum of $20,000.00 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).

Id. at ¶ 8.

The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation. Accordingly, 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

1 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, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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). 2 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, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (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. 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.

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