In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 16-474V 

Filed: April 18, 2017 

UNPUBLISHED 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

TRACY E. CARROZZA, * 

 * 

 Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages; 

v. * Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular 

 * Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine; Shoulder 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit 

 * (“SPU”) 

 Respondent. * 

 * 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Leah Durant, Law Offices of Leah Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. 

Lynn Ricciardella, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 On April 14, 2016, 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 alleged that she suffered severe shoulder pain after receiving the 

tetanus vaccine3 on July 24, 2015. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1-3, 12; see also Stipulation, filed 

Apr. 17, 2017, at ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleged that she received the vaccination 

in the United States, suffered the effects of her injury for more than six months, and has 

not received compensation for her injury, alleged as vaccine caused. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 

13-14; see also Stipulation at ¶¶ 4-5. “Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine 

 

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 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 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 subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).

3

 Petitioner’s proof of vaccination shows she received an intramuscular injection of the Boostrix vaccine in 

her left deltoid. Petitioner’s Exhibit 1. Boostrix is a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine 

manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. See 

https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm172925.htm (last visited on 

Apr. 18, 2017). 
2

caused petitioner to suffer from SIRVA, or any other injury, and denies that petitioner’s

current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

Nevertheless, on April 17, 2017, 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 $170,000.00 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.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 s/Nora Beth Dorsey 

 Nora Beth Dorsey 

 Chief Special Master 

 

4

 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.