Piermattei v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-502V (not to be published) ************************* * * DEAN PIERMATTEI, * * * Filed: January 2, 2024 Petitioner, * * v. * * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * * Respondent. * * ************************* * Lawrence R. Cohan, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner Katherine Esposito, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On April 24, 2020, Dean Piermattei (“Petitioner”) filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”). 2 Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) as a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccination he received on September 26, 2018. See Stipulation ¶ 2, 4, dated January 2, 2024 (ECF No. 64); see also Petition.

Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means the Decision 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 Decision in its present form will be available. Id. The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L.

No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.

Respondent denies “that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury; denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS and/or CIDP, or any other injury; and denies that his current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” See Stipulation ¶ 6. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation filed January 2, 2024, that the issues before them can 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 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 $85,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

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

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/ Katherine E. Oler Katherine E. Oler Special Master

Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice renouncing their right to seek review.

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPF:CIAL MASTERS

01:/\N l'IERM/\TTU , Petitioner.

No. 20-502V (l:{TJ Special Master Oler SLC lff I 1\R Y OF IIE/\1.TH /\ND ll lltvl/\N SERV ICES.

l{c~pondcnt.

STIP ULATION The pa rties hereh~ stipulate to the folio\\ ing mailers: I. 1\:titioner. Dean Pk:nnatlei. filed a petition l<lr ,·an:inc 1.·0111pensatitln unde1· the Natillllal Vaccine Injury Compensation l'rngram. -12 ll .S.C. *.,00aa- 10 to 3-l (the --vacci ne Prog ram··). The petition !>Ceb C()111pcn~atitl!1 li.ir ( iuillain Barro:: S~ndrtimc ("(il3S.. ) and Clll\mic n:c1.·ipt of an i11tlue111a ("flu") ,accirn:, \\hil.:h is conta ined in the Vaccine lnjur~ I able (the ··(able .. ). -12 C.1-.R. ~ 100 ..1 (a).

Petitioner rec:ei,·ed a flu ,·,H:cinc on September 26.2018.

' J. I he, acL·ine ,,as administered" ithin the l lnih:d Swtes.

-L P1.·titioncr alleges that a<; a result o r rccei,·ing the flu ,·accination. he sul'lcred (il)S and CIDP. I le further alleges that he has experil.:nced the rc~idual effect!-. of these conditions liw more than six llllllllhs.

5. Pctitil11Kr repn:sents that there has been no prior ,l\\ard or se11lc111cnt llr a ci, ii action for damag,:s 0 11 hi s bd1alfas a rcsult of hi s conditions.

6. Respondent den ies that petitioner sustained a Gl3S Table inj ur>·: denies that the tlu \'accine caused petit ioncr"s alkged GUS and/or CIDP. or an~ other injut'): and denies that his current condition is a scqucla of a vaccine-related injury .

7. Mnintaining their abo\'c-statecl positions. the parties ne, erthdess 110\\ agree that thl' issues bc1,,een them shall be senlcd and that a decision shou ld be entered .l\\arding the compensat ion described in paragraph 8 of this Stipu lation.

8. /\ <:- soon as practicable alkr an cntr> of j udgment reflecting a decision consistent ,, ith the 11:rms of th i<:- Stipulation. and a lier petitioner has tiled an election to recei, c w mpcn sa tion pt1Nian1 10 -t2 t I.S.C. *.100aa-2 I (a)( I). the Secretary or I h:ahh and I luman Sen ices \\ ill iS)lle the fol l1n, ing \'ace inc cornpen)ation I"'> mcnt: 1\ lump sum ol'~MS,000.00 in 1he form o r a check pa> able 10 petitioner. ·1hi, amount n:pre1;e111) compen,at ion li.w all damages that ,,ould he nvailahlc under -t2 ll .S.C' . * 300aa- I S( a).

lJ. As s1)0Jl as prm:1icabk al'tcr the entr> of judgment on c111itlemc111 in thi.., ca<;e. and afl1.-r petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election t1) rccei,c compen~ation pursuant to -t2 U.S .l'. *300aa-2 l(a)( I). and an application. the partie<; \\ ill suhmit to li1rther pr1H.:ecdings before Lill.' ~pecial master hi , l\\ ard rea!-.onable a11ornc> s· l~·e~ and costs inc urred in proceeding upon thi s petition.

I 0. Petitioner and his allorne:- represent that 1.·ompcn,;atil111 to be pn.)\ ided pursuant to this Stipu lation i<; not for an:- item~ or scn ices for ,,hich the Program is not primaril> liable un<kr -t2 l l.S.C. ~ 300aa- I 5( g ). to the c:-:tent that pa~ ment has been made or can rea~onabl:- he expected tn be made under an> State compensation pnigrarns. insurancc policies. Federal or State health bcnclih programs (other than Titk XIX ()fthe St)c ial Sccurit> t\ct ( ➔ 2 Ll.S.C. ~ 1396 ct seq. )). (11· b> entities that pro, idc health sen ice!'> on a pre-paid ba._i ....

') . Paymcnl made pursuant to paragraph 8 and an) amounts ,marcled pursua nt 10 paragraph 9 of this St i p11 la1 ion "ill be mack in accordancl:! "ith 42 U.S.C . § 300aa- I 5( i). s11b_icc1 In the a\·ailabilil) or sufficient s1a1utor) funds.

12. ·1he panics and 1hcir attorne) s f'ur1hcr agrl'C and s1ip11la1c thal. e:xcept for an~ a\\ ard for at1orne) s• Ices. and li1igation 1:osb. the 1110111::) prm ided pursuanl 10 this Stipul,11ion \\ ill be used sok ly for the benefit of pet itioner as contemplated b~ a stric1 construction of42 l J.S.C. § .100aa- I 5(a) <1nd (d ). and subjecl 10 the cond itions nr .n U .S.C. § 300aa- I 5(g) and (h }.

I .1 . In rclurn for 1hc paymen1s described in paragraphs 8 and 9. pe1 i1ioncr. in his ind i\ idual rnpaci t) and on beha lf o f his heirs. c:--ccuinrs. administrnlors. suc1:cssors or assigns. docs forcn:r irre\o<:ahl) and unconditiona lly relca'-1.!. acquit and disc harge the Uni ted States and thl.! Sccrdar) of I kallh and I luman Sen ices from ,Ill) and all actions or causes of action ( including agreement:-,. judgmenls. <:!a ims. damages. loss or sen ices. e:-..:penses and all demands or\\ hate\ er kind or 11.ll ure) that Im\ c been broughl. could IHn e been bn1t1gh1. \)r C\1t1ld be t imcl:, brought in the ( ·ourt or l·ederal C lai m.... under the I ational Va1:dne ln_jur:, Compcnsatilln Program . 42 l I.S.C. § 300aa- I O ct -;cq .. on account or. or in an~ \\ ay gRm ing out ot: any and all k1 w\, n or unkno\\ 11. ~uspe<:h:d or u11suspe1:tcd personal injuries to or dealh of' pclit ioner rcsull ing from. \ll' alleged tt1 lw\·c resulted from a flu \ Hl.'Cine administered on September 26. 2018. as alleged b:, petitionc r in a petili\lll for\ an:inc compensation filed on \II' about t\pri l 2-l. 2020. in the l lnited State!- Court o r Federal Claims as pctiti\)ll No. 20-502V.

1-L 11· petitioner should die prior to enlr~ of_j udgment. th is agrccmcnt shal l be , oidahlc upon pwper 11\lt ice I\) the Court on belwtr or either \lr both of' the parties.

15. Ir the !->f)Cl.'ial ma::,ter fai b to i::,::,ue a dc<:i:--ion in rnmpldc 1:011fi.1rn1it~ \\ ith the terms or thi:-- St ipulation or i f the (.\1urt or Federal Claims fails t() cllltT _judgment in nin rormit~

,, ith a dedsion that is in complete rnnformit:, ,, ith the terms of this Stipulation. then the parties· setllement and this S1ip11la1ion sha ll be \'oidablc at the sole cliscre1ion of either party.

16. ·1his Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated selllement of liahilit:, and damages claimed umlcr the National Ch ildhood Vm:cine lnjur:, /\cl of 1986. as mm:nckd. except as othcrn isc noted in paragraph 9 abo, e. I here is ahsolutel) no agrec.:mcnt on the part or the parties hereto to make an) pa) nH.:nt or to do an:, act or th ing other than b herein e:-..prcssl) slated and clearly agreed to. The parties further agn:c and understand that the a,,ard <kscribed in !hie, S1ipulat ion ma:, reflect a compromise or the parties· respecti, c positions as 10 liabilit:, and 1or amount of damage~. and fu rther. that a chnnge in the nature of the injur:, or cond itinn or in the items 1)1' C1)1l11K'nsalit>ll sought. is not gmunds to modi I~ or re,·isc this agrec1m:111.

17. rhi -; Stipulat ion shall 1101 be c1111stn11:d as an admissitin b: the United States tir the Secrctar:, of I lcahh and I luman Sen ices that the 1111 , an:inc caused petiti<iner·s alleged injuries or an:- other injur:, or his curre111 di<;nhilitics. or that p1•titi11ncr sufforcd an in,iur:, containL'd in the

18. All righb and obligations or petitioner hereunder shall appl:, equall:, lo petitioner" !. heir:-. cxecuton,. admini~trator-;. suN:cssors. and'lw assigns.

1:ND OF STIPI ll.t\-1ION I I I I I I I I Respect full y submitkd.

PETITIONER:

r .

ATTORNEY OF RF:CO FOR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE PE' ITIONER: or THF: ATTORNEY GENERAL: ~ ~ 'd.-P~ 1-11.:A'I HER I.. 1'1:/\RI.M/\N I !>k\ P.C' . .1 )CJ"t) ace .. :?"" FlmH • Ci \'il Di, i>iOll 1650 Market Stn:L't U.S. Department of Justice Philadelphia. P1\ 19103 P.O. Uox 1-16 (2 15) 575-3887 lknjamin Franklin Station lcohnn'a smbb.com \\·a~hingtt>n. DC: :?00-1-1 -01 -16 AUTHORIZE!> REPRESENTATl\'E ATTORNEY OF !{ECORD FOR OF TIIE SF:CRF:TARY OF IIEALTII RESPONDENT: AND lllll\lAN SF:RVICES: Hen ry P. 09,t.1ll1s•9n.:db1 l kw)• P Mcnullan •SS b: Mcmillan -S5 ~','~02013 ' ' o, "3., ii ~:~~,~~ CDR Gl:OR( iE RITD GRIMES. ~l D. i\ lPI I K/\TIII.RINE C. FSPOSI ro Director. Di, ision of I njur:, Trial /\ttorne: Compensat ion Programs ·1ort~ Uranch 1lcnlth S)·~tcms Bureau Ci \'il Dh·ision I lcall h Rc,ourcc~ and Sen ices U.S. Department of .lu,ticc Admi nistrat ion P.O. Box 1-16 ll.S. Department or I lcalth lknjami n 1-'ranklin Station and I luman Scn ·iccs Washington. I)(' 200-1 ..J-0 1-16 5600 Fi<;hers l.:mc. 08\\'-25A eo2 ) 3os-.n1..i Rock\'ille. i\lD 20857 kathcrine.csposito'a 11:.doj.l.!o,