VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00515
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00515
Petitioner: Kristiyana D. Smith
Filed: 2010-08-05
Decided: 2018-06-18
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2008-10-21
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 1435953

AI-assisted case summary:
Kristiyana D. Smith filed a petition on August 5, 2010, alleging that an influenza vaccine she received on October 21, 2008 caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome and Myasthenia Gravis, and that her death was a sequela of those vaccine-related injuries. Ms. Smith passed away on May 6, 2015, and the case caption was amended on November 23, 2015. Mercy Shaver was appointed administrator of Ms. Smith's estate and was substituted as petitioner.

On May 21, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation. Respondent denied that the vaccine caused Ms. Smith to suffer from GBS, MG, any other injury, or her death. Nevertheless, the parties agreed to resolve the case through stipulation, and Special Master Gowen found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Compensation totaling $1,435,953.47 was awarded: a lump sum of $245,000.00 payable to petitioner as legal representative of the estate of Kristiyana D. Smith, representing all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) other than the Medicaid lien; and a lump sum of $1,190,953.47 payable jointly to petitioner and the California Department of Health Care Services, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien for services rendered on behalf of Ms. Smith.

Theory of causation field:
Flu vaccine Oct 21, 2008 → GBS + MG + death (alleged sequela). Kristiyana Smith died May 6, 2015 (during litigation). Mercy Shaver administrator substituted. Joint stipulation May 21, 2018; respondent denied causation; SM Gowen. $1,435,953.47 ($245K estate + $1,190,953.47 CA DHCS Medicaid lien). All DB fields correct.

Public staged source text:

================================================================================
DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00515-0
Date issued/filed: 2018-06-18
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/22/2018) regarding 135 DECISION of Special Master on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (kl) Service on parties made.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case 1:10-vv-00515-UNJ Document 139 Filed 06/18/18 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: May 22, 2018
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
MERCY SHAVER, as Administrator of * UNPUBLISHED
the Estate of KRISTIYANA D. SMITH, *
*
Petitioner, * No. 10-515V
*
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Joint Stipulation; Influenza (“Flu”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”);
* Myasthenia Gravis (“MG”); Death.
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Franklin John Caldwell, Jr, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON STIPULATION1
On August 5, 2010 Kristiyana D. Smith filed a petition for compensation pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 On November 23, 2015, the case caption was
amended to reflect that Ms. Smith passed away on May 6, 2015, and Ms. Mercy Shaver
(“Petitioner”) was appointed administrator of Ms. Smith’s estate. Order Granting Motion to
Amend Caption, ECF No. 88. Petitioner alleges that Ms. Smith suffered from Guillain-Barre
Syndrome (“GBS”) and Myasthenia Gravis (“MG”) as a result of an influenza vaccine
administered on October 21, 2008. Petitioner further alleges that Ms. Smith’s death was the
sequela of her alleged injuries. Petition at ¶ 4; Stipulation at ¶ 4.
1
Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. Before the decision
is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed
redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the decision
will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id.
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-1 to -34 (2012)
(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.

Case 1:10-vv-00515-UNJ Document 139 Filed 06/18/18 Page 2 of 7
On May 21, 2018, the parties filed a joint stipulation (“Stipulation”) in which they state
that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. ECF No. 134.
Respondent denies that the vaccine petitioner received caused her to suffer from GBS, MG, any
other injury, or her death. Id. at ¶ 6.
Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the
issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding
compensation to petitioner according to the terms of the joint stipulation attached hereto as
Appendix A.
The joint stipulation awards:
a. A lump sum of $245,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner as legal
representative of the Estate of Kristiyana D. Smith. This amount represents
compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(a), except as set forth in paragraph 8.b of the Stipulation attached hereto as
Appendix A; and
b. A lump sum of $1,190,953.47, which amounts represents reimbursement of a
Medicaid lien for services rendered on behalf of Kristiyana D. Smith, in the form
of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
Department of Health Care Services
Recovery Branch – MS 4720
P.O. Box 997421
Sacramento, CA 95899-7421
DHCS Account No.: C94443871A-VAC03
I find the stipulation reasonable and I adopt it as the decision of the Court in
awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with
the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
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.
2

CCaassee 11::1100--vvvv--0000551155--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 113349 FFiilleedd 0056//2118//1188 PPaaggee 13 ooff 57

CCaassee 11::1100--vvvv--0000551155--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 113349 FFiilleedd 0056//2118//1188 PPaaggee 24 ooff 57

CCaassee 11::1100--vvvv--0000551155--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 113349 FFiilleedd 0056//2118//1188 PPaaggee 35 ooff 57

CCaassee 11::1100--vvvv--0000551155--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 113349 FFiilleedd 0056//2118//1188 PPaaggee 46 ooff 57

CCaassee 11::1100--vvvv--0000551155--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 113349 FFiilleedd 0056//2118//1188 PPaaggee 57 ooff 57