VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01315 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01315 Petitioner: Robert St. Pierre Filed: 2018-07-03 Decided: 2018-07-03 Vaccine: pneumococcal conjugate Vaccination date: 2015-08-21 Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 100000 AI-assisted case summary: Robert St. Pierre filed a petition alleging that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused by a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar-13) he received on August 21, 2015. He claimed to have experienced residual effects from the injury for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused GBS or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties reached a stipulation to resolve the matter informally. The Special Master found the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable and adopted them. Consequently, the court awarded Robert St. Pierre a lump sum of $100,000.00 as compensation for all damages. The award was to be paid via check made payable to the petitioner. The decision was issued on July 3, 2018, and the petition was filed on the same date. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. Petitioner's counsel was Amber D. Wilson, and respondent's counsel was Mallori B. Openchowski. Special Master Laura D. Millman issued the decision. Theory of causation field: Petitioner Robert St. Pierre alleged that his Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was caused by a pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar-13) vaccine received on August 21, 2015, and that he experienced residual effects for more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached an informal stipulation to resolve the matter. The Special Master adopted the stipulation, awarding $100,000.00 for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury. The decision was issued by Special Master Laura D. Millman on July 3, 2018, based on a stipulation filed on the same date. Petitioner's counsel was Amber D. Wilson, and respondent's counsel was Mallori B. Openchowski. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01315-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-07-30 Pages: 7 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/03/2018) regarding 41 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 1 of 7 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-1315V Filed: July 3, 2018 Not for Publication ************************************* ROBERT ST. PIERRE, * * Petitioner, * * Damages decision based on stipulation; v. * pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar-13”) * vaccine; Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * ************************************* Amber D. Wilson, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Mallori B. Openchowski, Washington, DC, for respondent. MILLMAN, Special Master DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 3, 2018, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that was caused by his receipt of pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar-13”) vaccine on August 21, 2015. He further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Respondent denies that the Prevnar-13 vaccine caused petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to delete such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall delete such material from public access. Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 2 of 7 informally. The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards a lump sum of $100,000.00, representing compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) (2012). The award shall be in the form of a check for $100,000.00 made payable to petitioner. 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.2 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: July 3, 2018 s/ Laura D. Millman Laura D. Millman Special Master 2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 3 of 7 Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 4 of 7 Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 5 of 7 Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 6 of 7 Case 1:16-vv-01315-UNJ Document 45 Filed 07/30/18 Page 7 of 7