Case Information

*1 In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1493V Filed: May 19, 2017 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JANE M STUART, *

* Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) vaccine; Guillain- * Barré Syndrome (“GBS”); Special SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

* Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren, et al., PC, Memphis, TN, for petitioner. Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 Dorsey , Chief Special Master: On December 9, 2015, Jane M. Stuart (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. , 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) caused by an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 30, 2014. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed May 17, 2017, at ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this condition for more than six months. Petition at 9-10; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from GBS or any other injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on May 17, 2017, the parties filed the joint stipulation (attached as Appendix A), stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

*2 The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation: a. A lump sum of $228,004.29 which amount represents compensation for

the first year life care expenses ($32,416.16), pain and suffering ($190,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($5,588.13), in the form of a check payable to petitioner ; and

b. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the attached Stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased. Stipulation at ¶ 8. These amounts represent compensation for all items of damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id .

The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

I

*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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T I P U L A T I O N T he pa r t i e s he r eb y s t i pu l a t e t o t he f o ll o w i ng m a tt e r s : I. J a ne M . S t u a r t. pe t i t i one r . f il ed a pe t i t i on f o r v a cc i ne c o m pen s a t i on unde r t he a li 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 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 ks 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 i n f l uen z a ( "" f l u .. ) v a cc i ne . w h i c h v a cc i ne i s c on t a i ned i n t he V a cc i ne I n j u r y T ab l e ( t he · T ab l e "" ) . 42 C . F . R . § I 00 . 3 ( a ) .

2 . P e t i t i one r r e c e i v ed t he nu v a cc i ne on o r abou t O c t obe r 30 . 20 1 4 . 3 . T he v a cc i na t i on w a s a d m i n i s t e r ed w i t h i n t h e U n i t ed S t a t e s . 4 . P e t i t i one r a ll ege s t h a t s he s u ff e r ed f r o m G u ill a i n - B a rr c y nd r o m e ( .. G B .. ) a s a r e s u l t

o f r e c e i v i ng t h e nu v a cc i ne . and f u r t h e r a ll ege s t ha t s he e x pe r i en c e d t h e r e s i dua l c f " l e c t s o f t h i s c o nd i t i on f o r m o r e t han s i x m on t h s .

5 . P e t i t i o e r r ep r e s en t s t ha t t he r e h a s be en no p r i o r a w a r d o r s e tt l e m en t o f a c i v il a c t i on f o r da m age s on he r beh a l f a s a r e s u l t o f he r c o nd i t i o n . 6 . R e s ponden t den i e s t ha t t h e f l u v a cc i n e c a u s ed pe t i t i one r t o s u f f e r f r o m G BS o r an y o t he r i n j u r y . *4 7 . M a i n t a i n i ng t he i r abo v e - s t a t ed p o s i t i on s . t h e pa r t i e s ne v e r t he l e ss no w ag r ee t h a t t h e i ss ue s be t w een t he m s ha l I be s e tt l ed and t ha t a de c i s i on s hou l d be en t e r ed a w a r d i ng t h e c o m p en s a t i on de sc r i b ed i n pa r ag r aph 8 o f t h i s t i pu l a t i o n .

8 . A s s oon a s p r a c t i c a b l e a ft e r an en t r y o f j ud g m en t r e f l e c t i n g a de c i s i on c on s i s t en 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 f t e r pe t i t i one r ha f i l 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 he S e c r e t a r y o f H ea l t h and I l u m an S e r v i c e s w i ll i s ue t he f o ll o w i ng v a cc i ne c o m pen s a t i on pa y m en t s :

a . A l u m p s u m o f $ 2 28 . 00 4 . 2 9 w h i c h a m ou n t r e p r e s e n t s c o m p en s a t i o n f o r f i r s t y ea r l i f e c a r e e x pen s e s ( $32 . 4 16 . 16 ) . pa i n and s u ff e r i ng ( $ 190 . 000 . 00 ) . and p a s t un r e i m bu r s ab l c e x pen s e s ( $5 . 588 . 13 ) . i n t h e f o r m o r a c he ck pa y ab l e t o pe t i t i one r : a nd b . A n a m oun t s u ff i c i en t t o pu r c ha s e t he an nu i t y c on t r a c t d e sc r i bed i n pa r ag r aph I 0 be l o w . pa i d t o t he li f e i n s u r a n c e c o m p an y f r o m w h i c h t h e annu i t y w ill be pu r c h a s e d ( t he .. L i f e I n s u r an c e C o m pan y .. ) . 9 . T he L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o m p an y m u s t ha v e a m i n i m u m o f $250 . 000 . 000 c ap i t a l and

s u r p l u s . e xc l u s i v e o f an y m anda t o r y s e c u r i t y v a l ua t i on r e s e r v e . T he L i f e I n s u r an c e C o m p an y m u s t ha v e o ne o f t he f o ll o w i ng r a t i n g s f r o m t w o o f t h e f o ll o w i n g r a t i ng o r ga n i z a t i on s :

a . A . M . B e s t C o m pa n y : A ++ . A + . A + g . A + p . A + r . o r A + s : b . M ood y " s I n v e s t o r S e r v i c e C l a i m s P a y i ng R a t i ng : A a3 . A a2 . A a I . o r A aa : c . S t anda r d and P oo r " s C o r po r a t i on I n s u r e r C l a i m s - P a y i n g A b ili t y R a t i ng : AA - .

AA . AA + . o r AAA : d . F i t c h C r ed i t R a t i ng C o m pan y . I n s u r an c e C o m pan y C l a i m s P a y i ng A b ili t y R a t i ng : AA - . AA . AA + . o r AAA . I 0 . T he S e c r e t a r y o f I l ea l t h and H u m an S e r v i c e s ag r ee s t o pu r c ha s e an annu i t y c on t r a c t f r o m t he L i f e I n s u r an c e C o m p an y f o r t he ben e f i t o f pe t i t i one r , J ane M . S t u a r t. pu r s uan t t o w h i c h t h e L i f e I n s u r an c e C o m p an y w i ll ag r ee t o m a k e pa y m en t s pe r i od i c a ll y t o pe t i t i one r a s f o ll o w s :

*5 a . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m bu r s a b l e H ea lt h A lli a n ce P l a n M a x i m u m - o u t - o f- p o c k e t e x p e n s e s . on t h e f i r s t a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t . a l u m p s u m o f $7 . 150 . 00 . i n c r ea s i n g a t t h e r a t e o f f i v e p e r ce n t ( 5 % ) . c o m pound e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o r j ud g m e n t . b . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m bu r s a b l e M e d i ca r e P a r t B P r e m i u m a nd M e d i ca r e P a r t D e xp e n s e s . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2023 . a n a nnu a l a m oun t o r $ 1 , 890 . 00 t o b e p a i d f o r t h e r e m a i nd e r o f p e titi on e r ' s li f e . i n c r ea s i n g a t t h e r a t e o r f i v e p e r ce n t ( 5 % ) . c o m po und e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o f j ud g m e n t . c . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m b u r s a b l e M e d i ca r e P a r t B D e d u c ti b l e . P r i m a r y C a r e P h y s i c i a n .

e u r o l og i s t . E M G , a nd G a b a p e n ti n e xp e n s e s . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o r j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2019 . a n a nnu a l a m oun t o f $3 . 505 . 46 t o b e p a i d up t o t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t i n y ea r 20 23 . T h e r ea f t e r . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2023 . a n a nnu a l a m oun t o f $280 . 73 t o b e p a i d f o r t h e r e m a i nd e r o r p e titi on e r ' s l i f e . a l l a m o u n t s i n c r ea s i n g a t t h e r a t e o f f i v e p e r ce n t ( 5 % ) . c o m p o un d e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o f j ud g m e n t . d . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m bu r s a b l e W h ee l e d W a l k e r . H a nd H e l d h e w e r a nd I n s t a ll a ti o n . a nd M e d i ca l A l e r t e xp e n s e s . on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2023 . a l u m p s u m o f $866 . 50 . T h e r ea f t e r . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2024 . a n a nnu a l a m o un t o f $5 0 1 . 25 t o b e p a i d f o r t h e r e m a i nd e r o f p e titi on e r ' s li f e . a ll a m o un t s i n c r ea s i n g a t t h e r a t e o f f o u r p e r ce n t ( 4 % ) . c o m p o und e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o f j ud g m e n t . e . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m bu r s a b l e S h O \\ e r C h a i r . R eac h e r . B e d C a n e . A n c ill a r y S e r v i ce e xp e n s e s . b e g i nn i ng on t h e f i r s t a nn i v e r s a r y o r t h e d a t e o r j udg m e n t . a n a nnu a l a m o un t o r $2 . 872 . 82 t o b e p a i d up t o t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o r t h e d a t e o r j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2023 . T h e n . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o r j udg m e n t i n y ea r 2023 . a n a nnu a l a m o un t o r $2 . 642 . 82 t o b e p a i d up t o t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o f t h e d a t e o f j ud g m e n t i n y ea r 2028 . T h e r ea f t e r . b e g i nn i ng on t h e a nn i v e r s a r y o r t h e d a t e o f j u dg m e n t i n y ea r 2028 . a n a nnu a l a m oun t o f $67 . 82 t o b e p a i d f o r t h e r e m a i nd e r o f p e titi on e r ' s li f e . a ll a m o un t s i n c r ea s i n g a t t h e r a t e o f f o u r p e r ce n t ( 4 % ) . c o m p o und e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t . f . F o r f u t u r e un r e i m b u r s a b l e C a s e M a n a g e m e n t e xp e n s e s . on t h e f i r s t a nn i v e r s a r y o r t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t , a l u m p s u m o f $ 1 . 0 6 8 . 0 0 . i n c r e a s i n g a t t h e r a t e o f f o u r p e r c e n t ( 4 % ) . c o m p o und e d a nnu a ll y fr o m t h e d a t e o r j udg m e n t .

A t t h e s o l e d i s c r e ti on o f t h e ec r e t a r y o r H ea lt h a nd H u m a n S e r v i c e s . t h e p e r i o d i c p a y m e n t s s e t f o r t h i n p a r a g r a ph I 0 a bov e m a y b e p r ov i d e d t o p e titi on e r i n m o n t h l y . qu a r t e r l y . a nnu a l o r o t h e r i n s t a ll m e n t s . T h e ·· a nnu a l a m oun t s .. s e t f o r t h a bov e d e s c r i b e o n l y t h e t o t a l y e a r l y s u m t o b e p a i d t o p e titi on e r a nd do no t r e qu i r e t h a t t h e p a y m e n t b e m a d e i n on e a nnu a l i n s t a ll m e n t . P e titi on e r w ill c on ti nu e t o r ece i v e t h e a nnu it y p a y m e n t s fr o m t h e L i f e I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny o n l y s o l ong a s *6 s h e . J ane M . S t ua r t. i s a li v e a t t he t i m e t ha t a pa r t i c u l a r pa y m en t i s due . W r i tt en no t i c e s ha ll be p r o v i d ed t o 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 and t he L i f e I n s u r an c e C o m p an y w i t h i n t w e n t y ( 20 ) da ys o f J ane M . t u a r t ' s d ea t h .

11 . T he annu i t y c o n t r a c t w ill be o w ned s o l e l y and e xc l u s i v e l y b y 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 and w ill be pu r c h a s e d a s s oon a s p r a c t i c a b l e f o ll o w i ng t h e en t r y o f a j ud g m en t i n c on f o r m i t y w i t h t h i s t i pu l a t i on . T he pa r t i e s s t i pu l a t e and ag r ee t h a t 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 and t h e U n i t ed S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a a r e no t r e s pon s i b l e f o r t h e p a y m en t o f an y s u m s o t h e r t h an t h e a m oun t s s e t f o r t h i n p a r ag r a p h 8 h e r e i n an d t he a m oun t s a w a r d ed pu r s uan t t o pa r ag r aph 12 he r e i n . and t ha t t h e y do no t gua r an t ee o r i n s u r e an y o f t h e f u t u r e an nu i t y pa y m en t s . U po n t h e pu r c h a s e o f t he ann u i t y c on t r a c t. t he 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 and t he U n i t ed S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a a r e r e l ea s e d f r o m an y and a ll ob li ga t i on s w i t h r e s pe c t t o f u t u r e annu i t y p a y m en t s .

12 . A s s oon a s p r a c t i c ab l e a ft e r t he e n t r y o r j u dg m en t on en 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 h a s f i l ed bo t h a p r ope r and 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 u an t t o 42 U . S . C . § 300aa - 2 I ( a )( I ) . and an app li c a t i on . t h e pa r t i e s w i II 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 p e c i a l m a s t e r t o a w a r d r ea s o nab l e a tt o r n e ys · f ee s a nd c o s t s i n c u rr ed i n p r o c ee d i n g upon t h i s pe t i t i on .

1 3 . P e t i t i one r a nd h e r a tt o r n e y r e p r e s e n t t h a t t h e y h a v e i d e n t i f i ed t o r e s po n de n t a ll k n o w n s o u r c e s o f pa y m en t f o r i t e m s o r s e r v i c e s f o r w 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 li ab l e unde r 42 U . S . C . § 300aa - I 5 ( g ) . i n c l ud i ng S t a t e c o m p en s a t i on p r og r a m s . i n s u r a n c e p o li c i e . F ede r a l o r l a t e h ea l t h bene f i t s p r og r a m s ( o t he r t h an T i t l e X I X o f t h e o c i a l S e c u r i t y A c t ( 42 U . S . C . § 1396 e t s eq . )) . o r 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 b a s i s .

*7 14 . P a y m e n t s m ade pu r s uan t t o pa r ag r aph 8 and an y a m oun t s a w a r d ed pu r uan t t o pa r a g r aph 12 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 d an c e w i t h 42 U . S . C . ~ 3 00 aa - I 5 ( i ) . s ub j e c t t o t he a v a i l ab i I i t y o f s u ff i c i en t s t a t u t o r y f un d s .

1 5 . T he pa r t i e s and t h e i r a tt o r ne ys f u r t h e r ag r ee and s t i pu l a t e t ha t. e xc ep t f o r an y 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 . and p a s t un r e i m bu r s ab l e e x pen s e s . t he m one y 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 e i t he r i mm e d i a t e l y o r a s pa r t o f t h e annu i t y c on t r a c t. w ill be u s ed s o l e l y f o r pe t i t i one r ' s ben e f i t a s c on t e m p l a t ed b y a s t r i c t c o n s t r u c t i on o f 42 U . S . C . ~~ 300 aa - l 5 ( a ) an d ( d ) . and s u b j e c t t o t h e c ond i t i on s o f 4 2 U . S . C . ~~ 3 0 0aa - 1 5 ( g ) and ( h ) .

16 . I n r e t u r n f o r t h e pa y m en t s d e sc r i bed i n pa r a g r aph s 8 and 12 . pe t i t i one r . i n he r i nd i v i dua l c a p a c i t y . and on beha l f o f he r 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 . d oe s f o r e v e r i r r e v o c ab l y and un c ond i t i ona l l y r e l ea s e . a c qu i t and d i sc ha r ge t h e U n i t ed S t a t e s and 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 f r o m an y a nd a ll a c t i on o r c a u s e s o f a c t i on ( i n c l ud i ng ag r ee m en t s . j u dg m en t s . c l a i m s . da m age s . l o ss o r s e r v i c e s . e x pen s e s and a ll de m and s o f w ha t e v e r k i nd o r na t u r e ) t h a t ha v e b ee n b r ough t. c o u l d ha v e b ee n b r ough t. o r c ou l d be t i m e l y b r ough t i n t he C o u r t o f F ede r a l C l a i m s . un de r t he 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 . ~ 300 aa - 10 e t s eq .. on a cc oun t o l : o r i n an y w a y g r o w i ng ou t o C an y and a ll k no w n o r un k n o w n . s u s pe c t ed o r un s u s pe c t ed pe r s ona l i n j u r i e s t o o r dea 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 e ge d t o ha v e r e s u l t e d f r o m . t h e f l u v a c c i na t i o n ad m i n i s t e r e d o n o r ab o u t O c t obe r 30 . 20 14 . a s a ll ege d 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 pen s a t i on f i l ed on o r abou t D e c e m be r 9 . 20 15 . i n t he U n i t ed S t a t e s C ou r t o f F e de r a l C l a i m s a s pe t i t i on o . 15 - 1493 Y .

1 7 . I f pe t i t i one r s ho u l d d i e p r i o r t o en t r y o f 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 upon p r ope r no t i c e t o t he C ou r t on beha l f o f e i t he r o r bo t h o f t he pa r t i e s . *8 18. If the spec ial master fa il s to issue a dec ision in compl ete confo rmity with the term s of thi s St ipulation or ifthe Court of Federal Claim s fa ils to enter judgment in conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of th is Stipulation. then the parties· settlement and this Stipulation shall be vo idable at the sole discretion of either party.

19. Thi s Stipu lation expresses a full and complete negoti ated settlement of I iabi lity and damages claimed und er the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. as amended. except as otherwise noted in paragraph 12 above. There is abso lutely no agreement on the part of the parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is here in expressly stated and clea rly agreed to . T he parties further agree and understand that the award described in th is Stipulati on may reflect a compromise of the parti es· respective positions as to I iabi I ity and/or amount of damages. and furth er. that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the items of compensation sought. is not grounds to mod ify or rev ise this agreement.

20. Petiti oner hereby authorizes respondent to disc lose documents fil ed by petitioner in this case consistent with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vacc ine Injury Compensat ion Program System of Records. No . 09- 15-0056.

21. This Stipulati on shall not be construed as an admission by the Un ited States or the Secretary of Hea lth and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner"s GBS or any other injur y.

22. Al l rights and obli gations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner·s heirs. executors. ad ministrators. successors, and/or assigns. END OF STIPULATION I I I I

6 *9 313 579 - 1 577 p . 8 M a y 151712 : 14p A m e r i c an D i s m an t l e r R e s p ec t f u l l y s ub m itt e d ,

A

TT O R N E Y O F R E C O R D F O R

AU

T HO R I ZE D R E P R E S E N T A T I V E P ET I T I ON E R : ~ . J / J L ! O F T H E A TT O R N E Y G E N E R A L : R I N E E . R E E V E S y D i r e c t o r . T o r t s B r a n c h C i v il D i v i s i on U . S . . D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s ti ce P . O . B ox . 1 46 B e n j a m i n F r a nk li n S t a ti o n W a s h i ng t on , D C 20044 - 0146

AU T HO R I ZE D R E P R E S k N T A T I V E A TT O R N E Y O F R E C O R D F O R O F T H E S E CR E : C : AAY O~ H E A LT H . · R E SP OND E N T : AND B)J~~ ~RVICE~:

,, ' / 1 l , / ~ - --..- ·· .... / .. " ! ~ _ , .... / ! __ .... " ' _ .. .. .. . • ~ S e n i o r T r i a l A tt o r n e y I ,. - ' / ~ ;:: --( ./. " l ,.. / . ' / • N A . AA ' Y '. ~ A D i v i s i on o f n j u r y C o m p e n s a ti on P r og r a m s

T o r t s B r a n c h H ea lt h ca r e S y s t e m s B u r ea u C i v il D i v i s i on U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f H ea l t h U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i ce a nd H u m a n S e r v i ce s P . O . B ox 146 5600 F i s h e r s L a n e B e n j a m i n F r a nk li n S t a ti on P a r k l a w n B u il d i ng , M a il S t op i 1 C - 2 6 W a s h i ng t on , D C 20044 - 0 1 46 R o c k v ill e , M D 20857 T e l: ( 2 02 ) 6 l 6 - 4357 D a t e d :

NOTES

[1] Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 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] National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).

[3] Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.