VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01420
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01420
Petitioner: Arnulfo Pantoja
Filed: 2021-02-23
Decided: 2021-04-12
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2017-10-22
Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 146737.45

AI-assisted case summary:
Arnulfo Pantoja filed a petition on February 23, 2021, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He alleged that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination on October 22, 2017. Respondent denied that the vaccine caused the alleged GBS or any other injury. However, both parties entered into a stipulation dated February 23, 2021, agreeing that the issues could be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation. The stipulation awarded a total of $146,737.45 in compensation, including $132,265.99 for pain and suffering, lost wages, and past unreimbursable expenses, and additional amounts for unreimbursed medical expenses. The Special Master reviewed the file and adopted the stipulation as the decision, awarding the requested amounts. Judgment was to be entered accordingly.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01420-0
Date issued/filed: 2021-04-12
Pages: 10
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 2/23/2021) regarding 47 DECISION of Special Master - Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Katherine E. Oler. (sl) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:18-vv-01420-UNJ Document 51 Filed 04/12/21 Page 1 of 10
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 18-1420V
(not to be published)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*
*
ARNULFO PANTOJA,
*
* Filed: February 23, 2021
Petitioner, *
*
*
v. * Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
* Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * (“Tdap”); Guillain-Barré syndrome
HUMAN SERVICES, * (“GBS”).
*
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Michael Baseluos, Baseluos Law Firm, PLLC, San Antonio, TX., for Petitioner
Jeremy Fugate, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On September 18, 2018, Arnulfo Pantoja (“Petitioner”) filed a petition seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine
Program”).2 Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges that he suffers from Guillain-Barré syndrome
(“GBS”) as a result of the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination he received
on October 22, 2017. See Stipulation ¶ 2, 4, dated February 23, 2021 (ECF No. 46); see also
Petition.
1 Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted
on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. §
3501 (2012). This means the Decision 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 Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L.
No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter
“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the
pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.

Case 1:18-vv-01420-UNJ Document 51 Filed 04/12/21 Page 2 of 10
Respondent denies “that the flu vaccine caused “[P]etitioner’s alleged GBS, or any other
injury; and denies that his current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” See
Stipulation ¶ 6. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions, agreed
in a stipulation dated February 23, 2021 that the issues before them can be settled and that a
decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation. ECF No. 46.
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:
a. A lump sum of $132,265.99, representing compensation for pain and suffering, lost
wages, and past unreimbursable expenses in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
b. A lump sum of $8,574.00, representing unreimbursed medical expenses for services
provided to petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
Schumacher Clinical Partners
900 E. 4th St.
Odessa, TX 79761
Attn: Client Services
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Schumacher Clinical Partners.
c. A lump sum of $148.96, representing unreimbursed medical expenses for services
provided to petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
West Texas Neurology
318 N. Alleghaney Ave. Suite 302
Odessa, TX 79760
Attn: Client Services
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to West Texas Neurology.
d. A lump sum of $1,323.00, representing unreimbursed medical expenses for services
provided to petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
Medical System Health Center
PO Box 120153
Grand Raps MI 49528-0103
Attn: Client Services
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Medical System Health Center.
e. A lump sum of $4,468.01, representing unreimbursed medical expenses for services

Case 1:18-vv-01420-UNJ Document 51 Filed 04/12/21 Page 3 of 10
provided to petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
Dr. Richard Duke
520 E. 6th St.
Odessa, TX 79761
Attn: Client Services
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Dr. Richard Duke.
f. A lump sum of $199.56, representing unreimbursed medical expenses for services
provided to petition, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and
Dr. Suresh Prasad
403 Pittsburg Avenue
Odessa TX 79761
Attn: Client Services
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Dr. Suresh Prasad.
Stipulation ¶ 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 amounts set forth above to be made
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.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 jointly filing notice
renouncing their right to seek review.

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