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OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-502V (not to be published)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.

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 42 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

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 ....

') 11 . 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

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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,