United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Griffis v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 6, 2017 · Thomas L. Gowen

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-483V

Filed: December 7, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED MICOLOUS GRIFFIS, personal * representative of the Estate of LAVERN * GRIFFIS, deceased, *

Petitioner, * Special Master Gowen

v. * Joint Stipulation on Damages;

* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”); AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Transvers Myelitis; Kidney

* Failure; Death Respondent. *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Douglas Ross, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On May 11, 2015, Lavern Griffis filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Upon Ms. Griffis’ death, Micolous Griffis (“petitioner”) was substituted as petitioner and personal representative of Ms. Griffis’ estate. Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 10, 2013, Ms. Griffis suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), transverse myelitis, and urinary retention and kidney failure, and that she subsequently died on May 7, 2015, as a result of her alleged vaccine-related injury. Stipulation at ¶ 4.

On December 7, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Griffis’ alleged GBS, TM, or any other injury or condition, or her death. 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 $200,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Micolous

Griffis, as legal representative of the estate of Lavern Griffis. 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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