In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 19-0860V

UNPUBLISHED

RALPH L. LAMACCHIA,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: January 4, 2022

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; Influenza 

(Flu); Shoulder Injury Related to 

Vaccine Administration (SIRVA).

Scott B. Taylor, Urban & Taylor, S.C., Milwaukee, WI, for Petitioner.

Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On June 12, 2019, Ralph L. LaMacchia 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”) causally related to his receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on 

October 3, 2016. Petition at 1. 

On December 28, 2021, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, which states 

that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. ECF No. 34. I find the 

stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set 

forth therein.

1 Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 opinion 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).
2

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following 

compensation:

• A lump sum of $62,254.99 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 

This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that 

would be available under Section 15(a). Stipulation at ¶ 8.

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 STA TES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

RALPH LAMACCHIA, 

Petitioner, 

V. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent. 

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) 

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) 

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) 

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No. 19-860V 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

STIPULATION 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

I. Petitioner, Ralph LaMacchia, 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 the influenz.a ("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 October 3, 2016. 

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 

4. The petition alleges that petitioner sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration ("SIRVA") as a result of receiving the flu vaccine, and that petitioner 

experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. 

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil 

action for damages arising out of the alleged vaccine injury. 

6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury following the flu 

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vaccination, and further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a shoulder injury 

or any other injury or petitioner's current condition. 

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-2l(a)(I), the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment: 

A lump sum of $62,254.99 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This 

amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 

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 the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any 

proceeding upon this petition. 

10. Petitioner and petitioner's attorney represent that compensation to be provided 

pursuant to this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not 

primarily liable under 42 U .S.C. § 300aa-l 5(g), to the extent that payment has been made or 

can reasonably be expected to be made under any 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 by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis, 

and represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or 

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services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U .S.C. § 300aa-15(g). 

l l. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to 

paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l5(Q, 

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, and past unreimbursable 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 of42 U.S.C.§ 300aa-15(g) and(h). 

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

petitioner's individual capacity, and on behalf of petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, 

successors or assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and 

discharge the United States and the Secretary of I lealth 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 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 vaccination as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation 

filed on or about June 12, 2019, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 

19-860V. 

14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be 

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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 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 to 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 injury 

or any other injury or petitioner's current condition. 

18. A II rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to 

petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. 

END OF STIPULATION 

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Respectfully submitted, 

ATTORNEY OF RECORD 

FOR PETITI~~n 

nnr-~....iHr-..-etitioner 

Urban & Taylor, S.C. 

Urban & Taylor Law Building 

4701 N. Port Washington Rd. 4th Floor 

Milwaukee, WI 53212 

Tel: 414-906-1700 

Fax: 414-906-5333 

Email: stavlor(tt1wisconsin in jury.com 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: 

. ~\l-ft• , ANv- ,__ HEATHER L. PEARLMAN 

Deputy Director 

Torts Branch 

Civil Division 

U.S. Department of Justice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, DC 20044-0146 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

OF THE SECRET ARY OF HEALTH RESPONDENT: 

AND HUMAN SERVICES: 

,._, ,..,.,, ' . ( ~ l.4-( 

D& 

TAMARA 

Jrudk

OVERBY 

, DffSc-1 /I /J~ 

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LYNNC. 

b ~ SCHUE L, ~ 

Acting Director, Division of Injury 

Compensation Programs 

Health Systems Bureau 

Health Resources and Services 

Administration 

U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services 

5600 Fishers Lane, 08N 146B 

Rockville, MD 20857 

Dated: I 2'/£1/Znd 

Trial Attorney 

Torts Branch 

Civil Division 

U.S. Department of Justice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, DC 20044-0146 

Tel: 202-616-3667 

Email: Lynn.Schlic(tt)usdoj.gov 

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