# In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17 - 864 V Filed: September 6, 2018 UNPUBLISHED
LINDSEY KUENG , Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC , for petitioner. Lisa Ann Watts , U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 

## Dorsey , Chief Special Master: On June 26, 2017 , p etitioner 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 that she suffered a right sho ulder injury related to vaccine a dministration (“SIRVA” ), which was caused by administration of the tetanus, diphtheria, acellu lar
- pertussis ( “ Tdap' ” ) vaccine she received on May 21, 2016

. Petition at 1 ; Stipulation , filed September 6, 2018 , at ¶¶ 2, 4

. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her injuries for more than six months . Petit ion at 3 ; Stipulation at ¶ 4

. “ Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’ s alleged right SIRVA, or any other injury, and further denies that petitioner’ s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine related injury. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1 

### Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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) . 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.

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 subpara graph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012 ).

### 2



## Nevertheless, o n September 6, 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 term s stated in the attached Stipulation , the undersigned award s the following compensation: A lump sum of $ 80,098.71 in the form of a check payable to petitioner

. Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
- 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.**IN THE**  **UNITED STATES**  **COURT OF**  **FEDERAL CLAIMS** 



### OFFICE **OF SPECIAL**  **MASTERS LINDSEY** 

### KUENG, **Petitioner,**

**v. SECRETARY** **OF** 

### HEALTH **AND HUMAN** **SERVICES, Respondent.**  **No. 17-864V**  **ChiefSpecial Master**  **Dorsey ECF-SPU** 

**STIPULATION The**  

### parties **hereby stipulate**  **to the**  

### following **matters: I.**  **Lindsey Kueng**  

### ("petitioner") **filed a**  

# petit�on **for vaccine**  **compensation under**  **the National**  **Vaccine** 

### Injury **Compensation Program,**  **42 U.S.C.**  

### § **300aa-10 to**  **34** 

### (the **"Vaccine** 

### Program"). **The** 

### petition **seeks compensation**  **for** 

# injuries **allegedly related**  **to petitioner's**  **receipt of**  

### the **tetanus,** 

### diphtheria, **acellular-pertussis ("Tdap'')**  **vaccine,** 

### which **vaccine is**  

### contained **in the**  **Vaccine I11jury**  **Table (the**  

# "Table"),42 **C.F.R.** 

### § **100.3(a). 2.**  **Petitioner** 

### received 

# a **Tdap vaccine**  **in her**  **right deltoid**  

# on **or** 

### about **May 21,**  

### 2016. **3.** 

# The **vaccine was**  **administered** 

### within **the United**  

### States. **4. Petitioner**  **alleges that**  

### she **suffered** 

### a **right shoulder**  

### injury **related to**  **vaccine** 

### administration **('�SIRVA"),** 

### which **was cau**  **s e**  **d by**  **administration of**  **the Tdap**  **vaccine. Petitioner**  

### further **alleges that**  **she s**  **uffer ed**  **the residual**  **effects of**  **her** 

# injuries **for more**  

### than **six** 

### months. **5.** 

### Petitioner **represents that**  **there has**  

### been **no prior**  **award or**  **settlement** 

### of **a civil**  **action** 

### for **damages on**  **her** 

# behalf **as a**  **result of**  **her** 

### conditiOn.

**1 6.**  **Respondent denies**  

### that **the Tdap**  **vaccine caused**  **petitioner's all**  **eged right**  **SIRVA, or** 

**any other**  **injury, and**  **further** 

### denies **that petitioner's**  **c urr** **ent disabilities**  **are sequelae**  

### ofa **vaccine related**  **injury. 7.**  **Maintaining their**  **above-stated positions,**  **the parties**  **nevertheless now**  **agree** 

### that **the issues**  **between them**  

### shall **be settled**  

### and **that a**  **decision** 

### should **be entered**  **a w**  **a rding**  

### the **compensation described**  **in paragraph**  **8 of**  **this Stipulation.**  **· 8.**  **As** 

### saon **as** 

### ptacticable **after** 

### an **entry of**  

### judgment **reflecting** 

# a **decision consistent**  **with the**  **ter.ms** 

### of **this Stipulation,**  **,and** 

### after **petitioner** 

### has **filed an**  **election to**  

### receive **compensation pursuant**  **to 42**  

### U.S.C. **§ 300aa-21(a)(l),**  **the** 

### Secretary **of Health**  **and** 

# Human **Services will**  **issue the**  

### following **vaccine compensation**  **payment: A**  **lump sum**  

### of **$80,098. 71**  **in the**  **form of**  **a** 

### check **payable to**  **petitioner.** 

### This **amount represents**  **compensation**

**for all**  **damages that**  **would be**  

### available **un d**  **e**

# r **42 U.S.C.**  

### § **300aa-15(a). ·**  **9. As**  

### soon **a s**  **practicable after**  **the** 

### entry **of** 

# judgment **on entitlement**  

### in **this case,**  **and** 

### after **petitioner has**  

### filed **both a**  **proper and**  **timely election**  **to receive**  **compensation pursuant**  **to 42**  

### U.S.C. **§ 300aa-21(a)(l),**  **and an**  

### application, **the parties**  

### will **submit to**  

### further **proceedings** 

### befor **e the**  **special** 

# master **to** 

### award **reasonable attorneys'**  

### fees **and costs**  **incurred** 

### in **proceeding upon**  

### this 

### petition.

**10. Petitioner**  **and her**  **attomey represent**  **that** 

### they **h** 

### a **v e**  **identified to**  **respondent all**  **known sources**  

### of **payment for**  **items or**  

### servicesforwhich **the Program**  

### i **s** 

### not **primarily** 

# liable **under 42**  **U.S.C.** 

### § **300aa-15(g), including**  **State** 

### compensation **programs, insurance**  

### policies, **Federal or**  

### State **health benefits** 

**programs** 

### (other **than Title** 

**XIX of**  **the Social**  

### Security **Act** 

### ( **42** 

# U.S.C.§ **1396 et**  

# seq.)), **or** 

### e **ntities that**  

### provide **health services**  

### on **a** 

### prepaid **basis.**

**2 •,** 

**11. Payment**  **made pursuant**  **to** 

### paragraph. **8, and**  **any** 

### amounts **awarded pursuant**  **to**

**paragraph 9**  **ofthis** 

# Stipulation,

**ill be**  **made in**  **accordance with**  **42 U.S.C.**  

# § **300aa-15(i), subject** 
**to** 

### the **availability of**  **sufficient statutory**  

### funds. **12. The**  **parties**

**and** 

### their **attorneys further**  **agree and**  **stipulate that,**  **except for**  **any** 

### award **for attorneys'**  

### fees **and litigation**  **costs, the**  

### money 

# provided **pursuant to**  **this Stipulation**  

### will **be used**  

# solely

**for the**  **benefit** 

### of **petitioner as**  

### contemplated **by a**  **strict construction**  

### of **42 U.S.C.**  

# § **300aa·15(a):ana (d),**  **and** 

# subject **to the**  **conditions of**  **42 U.S.C.**  

# § **300aa-15(g) and**  

# (h). **13.**

**In return**  

### for **the payments**  **described in**  

### paragraphs **8 and**  

### 9, **petitione r,**  **in her**  

### individual **capacity,**

**and on**  

### behalf **of her**  **heirs, executors,**  **administrators, successors,**  **and assigns,**  **does forever**  

### irrevocably **an d**  

### unconditionally **release,** 

# acquit **and discharge**  **the United**  

### S **t** 

### a **tes and**  **the Secretary**  

### ?fHealth **and Human**  **Services from**  **any and**  **all actions**  **or causes**  

# o� **action (including**  

# agreements, **judgments, claims,**  **damages, loss**  **of** 

### services, **expenses and**  **a ll**  **demands of**  **whatever** 

### kind. **or**

### natute) **that have**  **be e**  **n brou**  **g ht,**  

### could 

# have **been** 

### brought, **or could**  

### be 

# timely **brought in**  

### the**United States** **Court of**  

### Federal **Claims, under**  **the National**  **Vaccine** 

# Injury **Compensation Program,**  **42** 

### U.S.C. **§ :lOOaa-10**  **et seq.,**  **on account**  **of, or**  **in any**  **way growing**  **out** 

# of, **any and**  **all known**  **or** 

# unknown, **suspected or**  

# unsuspected **personal** 

# injuries **to** 

### or **death of**  **petitioner resulting**  **from�. or**  **alleged to**  

### have **resulted** 

### from, **the Tdap**  

### vaccine **administered on**  **May 21,**  **2016, as**  

# alleged **by petitioner**  **in** 

### a **petitiqn for**  **vaccine compensation**  **filed on**  **June 26,**  **2017,** 

### in **the United**  **States Court.of**  **Federal Claims**  **as petition**  **No.** 

### 17-864V. **14. If**  **petitioner should**  

### die **prior to**  

# entry **ofjudgment, this**  **agreement** 

### shall **be voidable**  **upon proper**  

# notice **to the**  **Court on**  

### behalf **of either**  **or** 

### both **of the**  **parties.** 

### 15.

**If the**  

### special **master** 

### fails **to issue**  **a decision**  **in** 

### complete **conformity with**  **the terms** 



### of **this Stipulation**  **or** 

### if **the United**  **States Court**  **of Federal**  

### Claims **fails to**  **enter** 

# judgment **in**

**3**

### confonnity **with a**  

### decision **that is**  **in** 

### complete **confonnity with**  

### the **terms .of**  **this** 

# Stipulation, **then**

**the.** 

### parties' **settlement and**  **this** 

### Stipulation **shall be**  **voidable at**  **the sole**  

### discretion **of either**  **party.**

**16. This**  

# Stipulation **expresses a**  **full and**  **complete negotiated**  **settlement of**  

# liability **and damages**  **claimed under**  **the** 

### National **Childhood** 

# Vaccine **Injury Act**  **of 1986,**  **as amended,**  

# except
**as otherwise**  **noted in**  **paragraph 9**  **above.** 

### There **is absolutely**  **no** 

### agreement **on the**  **part of**  **the parties**  **hereto to**  

### make **any payment**  **or do**  **any act**  **or thin,g**  **other than**  

### is **herein** 

### expressly **stated and**  **clearly** 

### agreed **to. The**  **parties**

### further **agree and**  **understand** 

### that **the award**  **described in**  **this Stipulation**  **may** 

### reflect **a compromise**  **of the**  **parties' respective**  

### positions **as to**  **liability and/or**  **amount of**  **damages�** 

### and **further, that**  **a change**  **in the**  **nature** 

### of **the** 

# injury **or condition**  

### or **in the**  **items of**  

### compensation **sought, is**  **not grounds**  **to** 

### modify **ot** 

### revise **this agreement.**  **17. This**  **Stipulation sh**  **all not**  **be construed**  **as an**  **admission by**  **the** 

### United **States or**  **the Secretary**  **of Health**  **and Human**  **ServiGes that**  **the Tdap**  

### vaccine **caused** 

### petitioner's **alleged right**  **SIRV A1**  **or any**  

### gther 

# injury, **or** 

### that **her curre**  **rtt** 

### disabilities **are** 

### sequelae **of** 

### her 

# alleged **vaccine-**

**. related**  

# injury. **18. All**  **rights and**  

### obligations **of petitigner**  **hereunder shall**  

### apply **equally to**  **petitioner's heirs,**  **executors, administrators,**  **successors,** 

### and/or **assigns. I**  **END OF**  **STIPULATION** 

### I

**4 Respectfully**  **submitted,**

**PETITIONER:.**



### ATTORNEY **OF** 

### RECORD **FOR PETITIONER:** 

**LEAH V.**  

### DURANT, **ESQ. 1717**  **K** 

### Street, **NW, Suite**  **90 0**  **Washington, DC**  **20006 Tel:**  **(202) 775-9200** 

**AUTHORIZED** 

### REPRESENTATIVE **OF THE**  **SECRET ARY**  **OF HEALTH**  **AND HUMAN**  **SERVICES:** 

# M **AJa:a** 

# NARAY:rM. **D .** 

**. Director**  **Division of**  

### Injury **Compensation Programs**  **Healthcare Systems**  

# Bureau **Health Resources**  **and Services**  **Administration U.S.**  

# Department **of** 

# Health **and Human**  **Services 5600**  **Fishers Lane**  

### Parklawn **Building, Stop**  **08N146B Rockville,** 



### MD **20857 DATE:** 



# I!< **I le** 

**5** 

### AUTHORIZED **REPRESENTATIVE OF**  **THE ATTORNEY**  **GENERAL:**

**CATHARINE E.**  **REEVES Deputy**  **Director Torts**  

### Branch **Civil Division**  **U. S.**  **Department** 

### of **Justice P.**  **0. Box**  **14 6**  

# Benjamin **Franklin Station**  

### Washington, **DC 20044-0146** 
**ATTORNEY OF**  **RECORD** 

### FOR **RESPONDENT:**

**Senior** 

# Trial **Attorney** 

### Torts **Branch Civil**  **Division** 

### U. **S. Department**  **of Justice**  **P. 0.**  **Box 146**  

# Benjamin **Franklin Station**  **Washington, DC**  **20044-0146 Tel:**  

### (202) **616-4099**