Case Information

*1 In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ROGER M. STECK, *

* No. 16-177V Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * v. * Filed: June 27, 2017 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; Tetanus vaccine; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Hepatitis A vaccine; Hepatitis B

* vaccine; Guillain-Barré * syndrome (“GBS”).

Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Steven M. Cohen, HoganWillig, Getzville, NY, for Petitioner; Darryl R. Wishard, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

UNPUBLISHED DECISION 1

On June 27, 2017, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for compensation filed by Roger M. Steck on February 5, 2016. In his petition, petitioner alleged that the tetanus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), and which he received on June 27, 2013, caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.

1 The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.

*2 Respondent denies that the vaccines either caused or significantly aggravated petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury, and denies that petitioner's current disabilities are the result of a vaccine-related injury.

Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Damages awarded in that stipulation include: A lump sum payment of $700,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Roger M. Steck. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,

the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 16-177V according to this decision and the attached stipulation. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED . s/Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran

Special Master

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.

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*3 N T H E UN I TE D S T A TE S C O UR T O F F E D E RA L C L A I M S

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FF I C E O F S P E C I A L M A S TE R S ) R OG E R M . S T E C K . ) ) P e t i t i one r . ) N o . I 6 - I 77 Y F : C F ) v . ) S pe c i a l M a s t e r M o r an ) E C R E T A R Y O F H EA L T ll ) A D H U M A SE R V I C E . ) ) _ _ __ ___ __ ___ _ __ ) R e s ponden t. )

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T I P U L A T I O N T h e pa r t i e s he r eb y s t i pu l a t e t o t h e f o l l o w i ng m a il e r s : I . P e t i t i one r . R oge r M . S t e c k . f il ed a pe t i t i on f ()r v a cc i n e c o m pen s a t i on un de r t h e

N a t i ona l V a cc i ne I n j u r y C o m pe n s a t i on P r og r a m . 42 U .. C . ~~ 300aa - I 0 t o 34 ( t h e " V a cc i ne P r og r a m " ) . T he pe t i t i on s ee k c o m p en s a t i on f o r i n j u r i e a ll eged l y r e l a t ed t o pe t i t i one r ' s r e c e i p t o f t he t e t anu s . hepa t i t i s A . and hepa t i t i s B v a cc i n e s ( " v a cc i ne s " ) . w h i c h a r e c on t a i ned i n t h e V a cc i ne I n j u r y T ab l e ( t h e " T ab l e " ) . 42 C . F . R . ~ I 00 . 3 ( a ) . ^[1]

2 . O n J une 27 . 20 1 3 . pe t i t i one r r e c e i v e d t he v a cc i n e s . 3 . T he v a cc i n e s w e r e a d m i n i s t e r e d " i t h i n t he U n i t ed S t a l e . 4 . P e t i t i o n e r a ll e g e s t h a t . a s a r e s u l t o f r e c e i v i n g t h e v a c c i n e s . he s u f f e r e d f r o m

G u ill a i n - B a r r e sy nd r o m e ( " G BS " ) . and t h a t he e x pe r i en c e d sy m p t o m s o f t h i s i n j u r y f o r m o r e t han s i x m on t h s .

5 . P e t i t i one r r e p r e s e n t s t h a t t h e r e h a s b ee n no p r i o r a w a r d o r s e tt l e m en t o r a c i v il a c t i on I l ' c . :titi on c . : r a l s o r c . : cc i\ C . : U t h e t~ r hn i u \ < l cc i n c . : on t h . it S < llll C . : d a t e . hu t t h a t \ < l C c i n c i s no t C O \ C r c u u nu c . : r t h e . :

V ac c i n e . : J > r og r n r n . *4 f o r da m age s a s a r e s u l t o f h i a ll eged i n j u r i e s .

6 . R e s ponden t den i e s t ha t t h e v a cc i ne s e i t he r c a u s e d o r s i g n i f i c a n t l y agg r a v a t ed pe t i t i one r ' s a ll eged i n j u r y o r an y o t he r i n j u r y . and den i e s t ha t pe t i t i one r · s c u rr en t d i ab ili t i e s a r c t he r e s u l t o f a v a cc i ne -r e l a t ed i n j u r y .

7 . M a i n t a i n i ng t h e i r abo v e - s t a t ed po s i t i on s . t he pa r t i e s ne v e r t he l e ss n o w ag r ee t ha t t h e i ss ue s be t w een t h e m s ha ll be s e tt l ed and t h a t a de c i s i on s hou l d be en t e r ed a w a r d i n g t h e c o m p en s a t i o n de sc r i b ed i n pa r ag r aph 8 o f " t h i s S t i pu l a t i on .

8 . A s s o o n a s p r a c t i c a b l e a ft e r a n e n t r y o f ' j u d g m e n t r e f l e c t i ng a d e c i s i on c on s i s t e n t w i t h t he t e r m s o f t h i s S t i pu l a t i on . and a ft e r pe t i t i one r h a s f il ed an e l e c t i on t o r e c e i v e c o m p en s a t i on pu r s uan t t o 42 U . S . C . ~ 300aa - 2 I ( a )( I ) . t h e S e c r e t a r y o r H ea l t h and H u m an

e r v i c e s w ill i ss ue t he f o ll o w i ng v a cc i ne c o m pen s a t i o n pa y m en t: A l u m p s u m o f $7 00 . 000 . 00 . i n t h e f o r m o r a c he ck pa y a b l e t o pe t i t i o ne r . T h i s a m oun t r ep r e s en t s c o m pen s a t i on f o r a ll da m a ge s t ha t \\ O u I d be a v a il ab l e unde r .f 2 U . S . C . ~ 300aa - I 5 { a ) .

9 . A s s oo n a s p r a c t i c ab l e a ft e r t h e en t r y o f " j udg m c n t on e n t i t l e m en t i n t h i s c a s e . and a ft e r pe t i t i one r ha s f il ed bo t h a p r ope r a nd t i m e l y e l e c t i on t o r e c e i v e c o m p en s a t i on pu r s uan t t o 42 U . S . C . S e c t i on 300aa - 2 I ( a )( I ) . and an app li c a t i o n . t h e pa r t i e s w i ll s ub m i t t o f u r t he r p r o c eed i ng s be f o r e t he s pe c i a l m a s t e r t o a w a r d r ea s o n ab l e a tt o r n e ys · f ee s and c o s t s i n c u rr ed i n p r o c e e d i ng up o n t h i s pe t i t i o n .

I 0 . P e t i t i o ne r and h i s a tt o r n e y r ep r e s e n t t ha t c o m p en s a t i on t o be p r o v i d ed pu r s uan t t o t h i s S t i pu l a t i on i s no t f o r an y i t e m s o r s e r v i c e s f o r '' h i c h t h e P r og r a m i s no t p r i m a r il y l i ab l e unde r 42 U . S . C . ~ 300aa - I 5 ( g ) . t o t he e x t en t t ha t pa y m en t h a s been m ad e o r c an r ea s o nab l y be e x pe c t ed t o be m ade und e r an y S t a t e c o m pen s a t i on p r og r a m s . i n s u r an c e po li c i e s . F ede r a l o r

*5 t a t e hea l t h be ne f i t s p r og r a m s ( o t he r t han T i t l e X I X o f t h e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A c t ( 4 2 U . S . C . § 1396 e t s e q . )) . o r b y e n t i t i e s t h a t p r o v i de h ea l t h s e r v i c e s on a p r e - pa i d ba s i s . 11 . P a y m en t m ade p u r s uan t t o pa r ag r aph 8 o f t h i s S t i pu l a t i o n . and an y a m oun t s a w a r ded pu r s ua n t t o pa r ag r aph 9 o f t h i s S t i pu l a t i on . w ill be m ade i n a cc o r dan c e w i t h 42 U . S . C . § 300aa - l 5 ( i ) . s ub j e c t t o t he a v a i l ab i li t y o f s u ff i c i en t s t a t u t o r y f und s .

12 . T he pa r t i e s and t h e i r a tt o r n e ys f u r t he r ag r ee and s t i pu l a t e t ha t. e xc ep t f o r an ) a w a r d f o r a tt o r ne ys · f ee s and li t i ga t i on c o s t s . t h e m one y p r o v i ded pu r s uan t t o t h i s S t i pu l a t i on w ill be u s e d s o l e l y f o r t he b en e f i t o f pe t i t i one r . a s c o n t e m p l a t e d b y a s t r i c t c o n s t r u c t i on o f - l 2 U . S . C . § 300aa - l 5 ( a ) and ( d ) . and s ub j e c t t o t he c o nd i t i on s o r 42 U . S . C . §§ 300aa - l 5 ( g ) and ( h ) .

1 3 . I n r e t u r n f o r t he pa y m en t s de c r i b ed i n pa r ag r a ph s 8 and 9 . pe t i t i one r . i n h i s i nd i v i dua l c apa c i t y and on beha l f o f h i s he i r s . e x e c u t o r s . ad m i n i s t r a t o r s . s u cc e ss o r s o r a ss i gn s . doe s f o r e v e r i rr e v o c ab l y and un c ond i t i ona ll y r e l ea s e . a c q u i t and d i sc ha r ge t he U n i t ed S t a t e s and t h e S e c r e t a r y o f H ea l t h and H u m an S e r v i c e s f r o m an y and a ll a c t i on s . c a u s e s o f a c t i on ( i n c l ud i n g ag r ee m en t s . j ud g m en t s . c l a i m s . da m age . l o ss o r s e r v i c e s . e x pen s e s a nd a ll de m a nd s o r w ha t e v e r k i nd o r na t u r e ) t ha t ha v e bee n b r ough t. c ou l d ha v e been b r ough t. o r c ou l d be t i m e l y b r ough t i n t h e C ou r t o f F e de r a l C l a i m s . und e r t h e N a t i ona l V a cc i ne I n j u r y C o m p en s a t i on P r og r a m . 42 U . S . C . § 300aa - I 0 e t s e q .. on a cc oun t o f. o r i n an y \\ a ) ' g r o w i ng ou t o r an y an d a ll k n o w n o r un k n o w n . s u s p e c t e d o r un s u s p e c t e d pe r s o n a l i n j u r i e s t o o r d e a t h o f pe t i t i one r r e s u l t i n g f r o m . o r a ll ege d t o ha v e r e s u l t ed f r o m . t he v a cc i ne s ad m i n i s t e r ed on J une 27 . 20 13 . a s a ll eged b y pe t i t i one r i n a pe t i t i on f o r v a cc i ne c o m pe n s a t i on f i l ed on o r abou t F eb r ua r y 5 . 20 16 . i n t h e U n i t ed S t a t e s C ou r t o f F ede r a l C l a i m s a s pe t i t i on N o . l 6 - I 77 V .

14 . I f pe t i t i one r s hou l d d i e p r i o r t o en t r) o r j udg m en t. t h i s ag r ee m en t s ha ll be v o i dab l e *6 upon p r ope r no t i c e t o t h e C o u r t on be ha l f o f e i t he r o r bo t h o f t h e pa r t i e s . 1 5 . l f t h e s pe c i a l m a t e r f a il s t o i ss ue a d e c i s i on i n c o m p l e t e c on f o r m i t y w i t h t he t e r m s o f t h i s t i pu l a t i on o r i f t he C o u r t o f F e de r a l C l a i m f a il s t o en t e r j ud g m e n t i n c on f o r m i t y " i t h a de c i s i o n t ha t i s i n c o m p l e t e c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t he t e r m s o f t h i s S t i pu l a t i o n . t h en t he pa r t i e s · s e tt l e m e n t and t h i s S t i pu l a t i on s ha ll be v o i dab l e a t t h e s o l e d i sc r e t i on o r e i t he r pa r t y .

16 . T h i s S t i pu l a t i on e x p r e s e s a f u ll and c o m p l e t e nego t i a t ed s e tt l e m en t o f li ab ili t ) and da m age s c l a i m ed unde r t h e a t i ona l C h il dh ood V a cc i ne I n j u r y A c t o f 1986 . a s a m e nd e d . e xc ep t a s o t h e r w i s e n o t ed i n pa r ag r a p h 9 ab o v e . T h e r e i s ab o l u t e l y n o ag r ee m en t on t h e pa r t o f t h e pa r t i e s he r e t o t o m a k e an y p a y m en t o r t o do an y a c t o r t h i ng o t h e r t h an i s he r e i n e x p r e ss ! ) s t a t ed and c l ea r l y ag r ee d t o . T he pa r t i e s f u r t he r ag r ee and unde r s t and t h a t t h e a w a r d de sc r i b ed i n t h i s s t i pu l a t i on m a y r e f l e c t a c o m p r o m i s e o f t he pa r t i e s · r e s p e c t i v e p o s i t i on s a s t o li ab ili t y and / o r a m oun t o f da m age s . and f u r t he r . t ha t a c hange i n t h e na t u r e o f t h e i n j u r y o r c ond i t i on o r i n t h e i t e m s o r c o m pe n s a t i on s o ugh t. i s no t g r o und s t o m o d i f y o r r e v i s e t h i s ag r ee m en t.

17 . T h i s S t i pu l a t i on s ha ll no t be c on s t r ued a s an a d m i ss i on b y t h e U n i t ed S t a t e s o r t he S e c r e t a r y o f H ea l t h and H u m an S e r v i c e s t h a t t he v a cc i n e s r e c e i v e d b y pe t i t i o ne r e i t he r c au s e d o r s i g n i f i c a n t l y agg r a v a t ed pe t i t i one r ' s a ll eged i n j u r y o r an y o t he r i n j u r y .

1 8 . A ll r i gh t s and ob li ga t i on s o f pe t i t i o ne r he r eunde r s ha ll ap p l y eq ua ll y t o pe t i t i one r · s h e i r s . e x e c u t o r s . a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . s u c c e s s o r s . a n d / o r a s i g n s .

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