VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00600 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00600 Petitioner: M.M. Filed: 2018-04-26 Decided: 2020-08-05 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2016-11-01 Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 62708 AI-assisted case summary: Emily and Ryan Moss, on behalf of their minor child M.M., filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 26, 2018. They alleged that M.M. suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of influenza and hepatitis A vaccinations received on November 1, 2016. The petition stated that the vaccines were administered in the United States, that M.M. suffered residual effects for more than six months, and that no prior award or settlement had been made. The respondent denied that M.M. sustained a GBS Table injury and denied that the vaccines caused M.M.'s alleged GBS or any other injury. The respondent noted that M.M. suffered a viral illness in close temporal proximity to the onset of his alleged GBS, which was a more likely cause. Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on July 1, 2020, agreeing to an award of compensation. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation as the decision awarding damages. The award included a lump sum of $15,000.00 for past unreimbursable expenses, payable to Petitioners. Additionally, a lump sum of $7,027.16 was awarded for reimbursement of a lien for vaccine injury-related services rendered on behalf of M.M., payable jointly to Petitioners and the Agency for Health Care Administration, and mailed to Florida Medicaid Casualty Recovery Program. Petitioners agreed to endorse this check to the Agency for Health Care Administration. Another lump sum of $40,781.08 was awarded for reimbursement of a lien for vaccine injury-related services rendered on behalf of M.M., payable jointly to Petitioners and the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, and mailed to Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services. Petitioners agreed to endorse this check to the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services. The decision also included an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity would be purchased. The total compensation awarded was $62,708.24 plus the annuity. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. The attorneys involved were Alison H. Haskins for the petitioners and Camille Michelle Collett for the respondent. Theory of causation field: Petitioners alleged that M.M. suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of influenza and hepatitis A vaccinations received on November 1, 2016. Respondent denied that M.M. sustained a GBS Table injury and denied that the vaccines caused M.M.'s alleged GBS or any other injury, noting that M.M. suffered a viral illness in close temporal proximity to the onset of his alleged GBS, which was a more likely cause. The parties filed a joint stipulation for an award of compensation. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation. The award included $15,000.00 for past unreimbursable expenses, $7,027.16 for Florida Medicaid lien reimbursement, $40,781.08 for Florida Department of Health Children’s Medical Services lien reimbursement, and an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity. The total award was $62,708.24 plus the annuity. The public decision does not detail the specific mechanism of causation, expert testimony, or the specific medical evidence considered beyond the stipulation. Attorneys for petitioners were Alison H. Haskins and for respondent was Camille Michelle Collett. Decision date was August 5, 2020. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00600-0 Date issued/filed: 2020-08-05 Pages: 3 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/02/2020) regarding 51 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-00600-UNJ Document 58 Filed 08/05/20 Page 1 of 3 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-0600V UNPUBLISHED EMILY MOSS and RYAN MOSS, on Chief Special Master Corcoran behalf of M.M., a minor child, Filed: July 2, 2020 Petitioners, v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint Stipulation on Damages; Influenza SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND (Flu) Vaccine; Hepatitis A (Hep A) HUMAN SERVICES, Vaccine; Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) Respondent. Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioners. Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On April 26, 2018, Emily Moss and Ryan Moss, on behalf of M.M., a minor child, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). The petition alleges that M.M. suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of influenza (“flu”) and hepatitis A (“Hep A”) vaccinations received on November 1, 2016. Petition at 1-2; Stipulation, filed at July 1, 2020, ¶¶ 1-4. Petitioners further allege that the vaccines were administered in the United States, that M.M. suffered the residual effects of the injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on behalf of M.M. as a result of his condition. Petition at 1,4; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. The stipulation indicates that “[r]espondent denies that M.M. sustained a GBS Table injury, and further denies that the flu and/or Hep A vaccines caused M.M.’s alleged GBS, or any other injury, or his current condition; the medical 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioners have 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 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 1:18-vv-00600-UNJ Document 58 Filed 08/05/20 Page 2 of 3 records document that M.M. suffered a viral illness in close temporal proximity to the onset of his alleged GBS, a more likely cause of GBS.” Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, on July 1, 2020, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following compensation: • A lump sum of $15,000.00, which amount represents compensation for past unreimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable to Petitioners; • A lump sum of $7,027.16, which amount represents the reimbursement of a lien for vaccine injury-related services rendered on behalf of M.M., in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioners and the Agency for Health Care Administration, and mailed to: Florida Medicaid Casualty Recovery Program P.O. Box 12188 Tallahassee, FL 32317 Case Number: 682772 Petitioners agree to endorse this check to the Agency for Health Care Administration. • A lump sum of $40,781.08, which amount represents the reimbursement of a lien for vaccine injury-related services rendered on behalf of M.M., in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioners and the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, and mailed to: Florida Department of Health Children’s Medical Services (CMS) 2390 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 CMS ID No.: 20191125MM01 Petitioners agree to endorse this check to the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services. • An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract descried in paragraph 10 of the Stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased (the “Life Insurance Company”). 2 Case 1:18-vv-00600-UNJ Document 58 Filed 08/05/20 Page 3 of 3 Stipulation at ¶ 8. These amounts represent compensation for all items of damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. I approve the requested amount for Petitioners’ 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/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran 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. 3