VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01234 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01234 Petitioner: Estate of Glenn Meramo Filed: 2015-10-22 Decided: 2017-07-25 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2013-11-14 Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 55000 AI-assisted case summary: The Estate of Glenn Meramo, by executrix Nancy Meramo, filed a petition on October 22, 2015, alleging that Glenn Meramo suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on November 14, 2013. The petition further alleged that these conditions caused or contributed to Mr. Meramo's death. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Meramo's GBS, CIDP, or death. Despite the denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for compensation. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded the estate a lump sum of $55,000.00, payable to Nancy Meramo as executrix, as compensation for all damages. The decision was entered on July 25, 2017. Petitioner's counsel was Cliff J. Shoemaker of Shoemaker, Gentry & Knickelbein, and respondent's counsel was Debra A. Begley of the United States Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the medical experts consulted. Theory of causation field: The Estate of Glenn Meramo alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on November 14, 2013, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), which in turn caused or contributed to Mr. Meramo's death. The respondent denied causation. The parties entered into a joint stipulation for compensation, which was approved by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. The stipulation resulted in an award of $55,000.00 to the estate. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the alleged injuries and death. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01234-0 Date issued/filed: 2017-07-25 Pages: 7 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/27/2017) regarding 44 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 1 of 7 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: June 27, 2017 * * * * * * * * * * * * * Estate of GLENN MERAMO, by * NANCY MERAMO, Executrix, * UNPUBLISHED * Petitioner, * No. 15-1234V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Joint Stipulation; Influenza (“Flu”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine; Guillain-Barré Syndrome * (“GBS”); Chronic Inflammatory Respondent. * Demyelinating Polyneuropathy * (“CIDP”); Death. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cliff J. Shoemaker, Shoemaker, Gentry & Knickelbein, Vienna, VA, for petitioner. Debra A. Begley, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On October 22, 2015, petitioner Nancy Meramo, as executrix of the estate of Glenn Meramo, filed a petition for compensation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012).2 Petitioner alleges that as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on November 14, 2013, Glenn Meramo suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy 1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, pursuant to the E- Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012). 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. 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. 1 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 2 of 7 (“CIDP”). Joint Stipulation at ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that these injuries caused or contributed to Mr. Meramo’s death. Id. at ¶ 5. On June 27, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Meramo’s alleged GBS, CIDP, or any other injury. Id. at ¶ 6. Respondent further denies that Mr. Meramo’s death was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Id. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following in compensation: 1) A lump sum of $55,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner Nancy Meramo, as executrix of the estate of Glenn Meramo. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a). Stipulation at ¶ 8. The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation. 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 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 3 of 7 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 4 of 7 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 5 of 7 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 6 of 7 Case 1:15-vv-01234-UNJ Document 48 Filed 07/25/17 Page 7 of 7