United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

VARGAS-STELLON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided March 18, 2024 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: February 21, 2024

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AMY VARGAS-STELLON and * ALBERT STELLON, parents of J.S., * a minor, * UNPUBLISHED

* Petitioners, * No. 22-863V

* v. * Special Master Dorsey

* SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Chronic

* Inflammatory Demyelinating Respondent. * Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioners.

Bridget Corridon, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION 1

On August 5, 2022, Amy Vargas-Stellon and Albert-Stellon (“Petitioners”), on behalf of J.S., a minor, filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury Program 2 alleging that J.S. suffered from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine J.S. received on October 10, 2019. Petition at 1 (ECF No. 1).

On February 21, 2024, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation to Petitioners. Stipulation (ECF No. 64). Respondent denies that J.S.’s alleged CIDP or its residual effects were caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine; and denies that the flu vaccine caused J.S. any other injury or her current condition. 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 Petitioners shall receive the following compensation: (1) An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph

10 of the Stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased (the “Life Insurance Company”).

This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Stipulation at ¶ 8.

The undersigned approves the requested amount for Petitioners’ compensation. Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora B. Dorsey Nora B. Dorsey Special Master

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc in accordance with the E- Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioners have 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. 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-10 to -34 (2018) (“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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