                 In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              No. 16-295V
                                          (not to be published)

*************************
ANGEL VILLA,               *
                           *                                     Special Master Corcoran
                           *
               Petitioner, *                                     Filed: October 2, 2017
                           *
          v.               *
                           *                                     Decision by Stipulation; Damages;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                     Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                                     Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).
                           *
               Respondent. *
                           *
*************************


John Robert Howie, Howie Law, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.

Darryl Wishard, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                  DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On March 3, 2016, Angel Villa filed a petition seeking compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleges that he suffered
from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”), as a result of his March 6, 2016, Varicella, Polio,
Meningococcal, Hepatitis A, or Hepatitis B vaccines. Petitioner further alleges that he has
experienced the residual effects of this condition for more than six months.


1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This
means the ruling 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 whole 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. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
        Respondent denies that the Varicella, Polio, Meningococcal, Hepatitis A, or Hepatitis B
vaccines caused Petitioner’s GBS or any other injury. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining
their above-stated positions, agreed in a stipulation (filed on October 2, 2017) that the issues before
them could be settled, and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.

        I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation
(as attached hereto) 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 $836,853.09, which amount represents compensation for first year
             life care expenses ($14,834.22), lost earnings ($622,018.87), and pain and suffering
             ($200,000.00), in the form of a check payable to Petitioner; and

            b) An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract (described in paragraph 10 of
             the Stipulation), paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be
             purchased.

Stipulation ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under Section 15(a) of the Act.

        I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount 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/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Special Master




3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately)
a notice renouncing their right to seek review.

                                                           2
