VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00840
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00840
Petitioner: Kaitlin Ripple
Filed: 2015-08-07
Decided: 2020-01-10
Vaccine: HPV
Vaccination date: 2012-08-13
Condition: Sjogren’s syndrome and/or Lupus
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 30000

AI-assisted case summary:
Kaitlin Ripple filed a petition on August 7, 2015, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Ms. Ripple alleged that she suffered Sjogren’s syndrome and/or Lupus as a result of receiving the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and/or the meningococcal vaccine on August 13, 2012. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the HPV or meningococcal vaccines caused Ms. Ripple's alleged conditions or any other injury. Despite maintaining their respective positions, both parties agreed to settle the case through a joint stipulation filed on August 20, 2019. Special Master Katherine E. Oler reviewed the file and found the stipulation to be reasonable, adopting it as the decision in the case. The stipulation awarded Ms. Ripple a lump sum of $30,000.00, payable to Petitioner, as compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The decision was entered on January 10, 2020, and judgment was directed to be entered unless a motion for review was filed. Petitioner was represented by Mark T. Sadaka of Sadaka Associates LLC, and Respondent was represented by Heather Pearlman of the U.S. Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert testimony.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Kaitlin Ripple alleged that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and/or the meningococcal vaccine administered on August 13, 2012, caused her to develop Sjogren’s syndrome and/or Lupus. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a settlement via stipulation, which was adopted by Special Master Katherine E. Oler. The stipulation awarded Petitioner $30,000.00 in lump sum for all damages. The specific theory of causation, medical experts, and mechanism of injury were not detailed in the public decision, as the case was resolved by stipulation. The decision date was January 10, 2020. Petitioner's counsel was Mark T. Sadaka, and Respondent's counsel was Heather Pearlman.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00840-1
Date issued/filed: 2020-01-10
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 8/20/19) regarding 68 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Katherine E. Oler. (aa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:15-vv-00840-UNJ Document 80 Filed 01/10/20 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-840V
(UNPUBLISHED)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
KAITLIN RIPPLE, *
*
* Special Master Katherine E. Oler
Petitioner,
*
* Filed: August 20, 2019
v.
*
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
* Human Papillomavirus; HPV;
HUMAN SERVICES,
* Meningococcal; Sjogren’s Syndrome;
*
Lupus
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mark T. Sadaka, Sadaka Associates LLC, Englewood, NJ, for Petitioner.
Heather Pearlman, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On August 7, 2015, Kaitlin Ripple (“Petitioner”) filed a petition seeking compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”).2 Pet., ECF
No. 1. Petitioner alleges that she suffered Sjodren’s syndrome and/or Lupus as a result of receiving
the Human Papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccine and/or the meningococcal vaccine on August 13,
2012. Id.
Respondent denies “that the HPV or meningococcal vaccines are the cause of [P]etitioner’s
alleged Sjogren’s [s]yndrome and/or Lupus or any other injury or condition.” See Stip. ¶ 6, dated
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to
post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). This means the ruling 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.
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.A. ' 300aa-
10-' 300aa-34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine
Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa.

Case 1:15-vv-00840-UNJ Document 80 Filed 01/10/20 Page 2 of 7
August 20, 2019, ECF No. 67. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated
positions, agreed in a joint stipulation filed August 20, 2019 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:
1. A lump sum of $30,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
Stip. ¶ 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. 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
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by filing a joint notice of
decision not to seek review.

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