Reese v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: August 15, 2019 * * * * * * * * * * * * * FRANKIE REESE, * Unpublished Petitioner, * * No. 18-647V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“flu”); Brachial * Plexopathy; Stipulation for Respondent. * Award * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Alexis B. Babcock, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

DECISION FOR STIPULATION1 On May 7, 2018, Frankie Reese (“petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petition at Preamble. Petitioner received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 26, 2016. Id.; Stipulation at ¶ 2 (ECF No. 26). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the flu vaccination, she suffered brachial plexopathy. Id.; Stipulation at ¶ 4.

On August 15, 2019, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 7. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer brachial plexopathy or any other injury. Id. at ¶ 6.

Maintaining their respective positions, the parities nevertheless now agree that the issues

Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id. 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. between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7.

The stipulation awards: 1) A lump sum of $28,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. 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

Entry of judgment is expediated by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).