United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Derenzo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided August 17, 2017

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-35V (not to be published)

************************* CHRYSTAL DERENZO, parent of * A.S., a minor, * Special Master Corcoran

* Petitioner, * Filed: July 5, 2017

* v. *

* Decision by Stipulation; Damages; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Meningococcal Vaccine; Uveitis. AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

* Respondent. *

* ************************* Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Lara A. Englund, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On January 8, 2016, Chrystal Derenzo filed a petition on behalf of her minor son, A.S., seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 The petition alleges that A.S. suffered from uveitis as a result of his August 8, 2014, meningococcal vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that A.S. suffered the residual effects of this condition for more than six months.

Respondent denies that the meningococcal vaccine caused A.S.’s uveitis, or any other injury or his current condition. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation (filed on July 3, 2017) that the issues before them could 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:  A lump sum of $120,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, as guardian/conservator of A.S.’s estate; and  A lump sum of $8,431.23 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. Stipulation ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a) of the Act.

I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount 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1 Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims’s website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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 whole decision in its present form will be available. Id. 2 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “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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