VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00873
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00873
Petitioner: Stewart Goldstein
Filed: 2017-06-27
Decided: 2019-01-15
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2016-09-30
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and complications from his illness, including death
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 387000

AI-assisted case summary:
On June 27, 2017, Benita Goldstein, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Stewart Goldstein, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Stewart Goldstein received an influenza vaccination on September 30, 2016, and subsequently developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and complications from his illness, including death. The petition stated that the vaccination occurred in the United States and that neither the petitioner nor any other party had filed a civil action or received compensation for the alleged vaccine-caused injuries and death. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Goldstein's GBS, any other injury, or his death. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation on November 21, 2018. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the court. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awarded a lump sum of $387,000.00, payable by check to Benita Goldstein as the legal representative of the Estate of Stewart Goldstein. This amount was designated as compensation for all items of damages available under § 15(a). The decision was issued on January 15, 2019. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests performed, treatments received, or the names of any medical experts consulted by either party. The specific mechanism of causation was not detailed in the public decision.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that Stewart Goldstein received an influenza (Flu) vaccine on September 30, 2016, and subsequently developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and complications, including death. Respondent denied that the vaccine caused the alleged injuries or death. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation, which was adopted by the court. The award was $387,000.00. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the GBS and death. The case was decided based on a joint stipulation for compensation.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00873-0
Date issued/filed: 2019-01-15
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/21/2018) regarding 36 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-00873-UNJ Document 39 Filed 01/15/19 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-873V
Filed: November 21, 2018
UNPUBLISHED
BENITA GOLDSTEIN, Personal
Representative of the Estate of
STEWART GOLDSTEIN ,
Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
Petitioner,
(Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre
v.
Syndrome (GBS)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Nancy Routh Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On June 27, 2017, 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 her husband, Stewart Goldstein, suffered Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”) and complications from his illness, including death, after receiving
the influenza vaccination on September 30, 2016. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 3, 11; Stipulation,
filed Nov. 21, 2018, at ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that her husband received
the vaccination in the United States, that his untimely death was a result of his GBS,
and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation
1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is required 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).
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).

Case 1:17-vv-00873-UNJ Document 39 Filed 01/15/19 Page 2 of 7
for her husband’s injuries and death, alleged as vaccine caused. Petition at ¶¶ 3, 11,
13-14; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Mr.
Goldstein’s alleged GBS, any other injury, or his death.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on November 21, 2018, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, 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.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:
A lump sum of $387,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, as
legal representative of the Estate of Stewart Goldstein. Stipulation at ¶ 8.
This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be
available under § 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
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.
2

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