In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1611V

UNPUBLISHED

SHEREE GARRETT,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: February 14, 2020

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; Influenza 

(Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury 

Related to Vaccine Administration 

(SIRVA)

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.

Glenn Alexander MacLeod, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for 

respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On October 26, 2017, Sheree Garrett 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”), which she contends meets the Table definition of SIRVA, after 

receiving the influenza vaccination on October 28, 2014. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 8; 

Stipulation, filed Feb. 12, 2020, at ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received 

the vaccination in the United States, suffered the residual effects of her injury for more 

than six months, and that neither she nor any other individual has filed a civil action or 

received compensation for her injury, alleged as vaccine caused. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 6-7; 

Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies petitioner sustained a Table SIRVA; denies 

that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged left shoulder injuries, or any other injury; 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 EGovernment 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), 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, 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).
2

and further denies that her current disabilities are a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.”

Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

Nevertheless, on February 12, 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 $60,613.50 as 

follows:

1. A lump sum payment of $54,643.72 in the form of a check payable 

to Petitioner; and

2. A lump sum payment of $5,969.78, representing compensation for full 

satisfaction of the Medicaid payments made on behalf of petitioner in the form 

of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and

Department of Health Care Services

Recovery Branch – MS 4720

P.O. Box 997421

Sacramento, CA 95899-7421

DHCS Account No.: C92925375A-VAC03

Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Department of Health Care Services. 

I approve 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/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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

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

* 

SHEREE GARRETT, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEAL TH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Respondent. * 

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

STIPULATION 

No. 17-1611V (ECF) 

CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER 

BRIAN H. CORCORAN 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

1. Petitioner filed a petition 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 trivalent influenza 

("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. 

§ 100.3(a). 

2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on or about October 28, 2014. 

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 

4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered the onset of a left shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (SIRVA), within 48 hours of the flu immunization she received on or about 

October 28, 2014, and further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this Table injury for 

more than six months. 

Page 1 of 6 
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. 

6. Respondent denies petitioner sustained a Table SIRVA; denies that the flu vaccine 

caused petitioner's alleged left shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and further denies that her 

current disabilities are a sequela of a 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 awarding the 

compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation. 

8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with 

the terms 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 payments: 

a. A lump sum of $5,969.78, which amount represents reimbursement of a lien for 

services provided to petitioner, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner 

and 

Department of Health Care Services 

Recovery Branch - MS 4 720 

P.O. Box 997421 

Sacramento, CA 95899-7421 

DHCS Account No.: C92925375A-VAC03 

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to the Department of Health Care 

Services; and 

b. A lump sum of $54,643.72, which amount represents compensation for all 

remaining elements of damages that would be available to petitioner under 42 

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a), in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 

9. As soon as 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 before 

Page 2 of 6 
the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this 

petition. 

10. Petitioner and her attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all 

known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is 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 entities that provide health services on a prepaid basis. 

11. Payments made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation and any amounts awarded 

pursuant to paragraph 9 will 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 attorney's fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursed expenses, 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) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. 

§ 300aa-l 5(g) and (h). 

13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her 

individual capacity, and on behalf of her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, 

does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United States and 

the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action 

(including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands 

of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, 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. § 300aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any way growing out 

Page 3 of 6 
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 flu vaccination administered on or 

about October 28, 2014, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on 

or about October 26,2017, and amended on or about November 20, 2017, in the United States 

Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-161 IV. 

14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, 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 

conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms ofthis 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 thing 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 or revise this agreement. 

17. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged left 

shoulder injuries, or any other injury or any of her current disabilities. 

Page 4 of 6 
18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's 

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. 

END OF STIPULATION 

Page 5 of 6 
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