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

No. 17 - 1442 V Filed: April 22, 2019 UNPUBLISHED
BITA FOTUHI , Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint Stipulation on Damages; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Paul D. Bekman, Bekman, Marder & Adkins, LLC , Baltimo re, MD, for petitioner. Lara Ann Englund

, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 

### Dorsey , Chief Special Master: On October 5, 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 the influenza ( “ flu ” ) vaccine she received on October 8, 2014, caused her to develop a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ( “ SIRVA ” ) in her left shoulder . Petition at 1 ; Stipulation , filed April 18, 2019 , at ¶ ¶ 2 - 4

. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months . Petit ion at 3 ; Stipulation at ¶ 4

. “ Respondent denies that the flu vaccine is the cause of petitioner's alleged SIRVA or any other injury or her current condition. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1 The un dersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website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 )

. 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 April 18, 2019 , 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 $ 131,962.33 in the form of a check payable to petitioner

. Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that wo uld be available under § 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 ST ATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS BITA FOTUHI, Petitione r,
V. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) No
. 17- 1 442V ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey ) ) ) )


### STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulat e to the following matters: I
. Petitioner Bita Fotuhi ("petitione r ") file d a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Inju ry Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (the "Vaccine Prog ram "). The pet i tion see ks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitione r's receipt

o f the influenza ("flu") vaccine , which vacc ine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Tab l e (the ''T ab le "), 42 C
. F.R. 

### § I00
. 3 (a). 2. Petitioner rece ived a flu vaccine on or about October 8, 20 14
. 3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 4. Peti tioner alleges that the flu vaccine caused her to develop a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA") in h er left shoulder and that she experienced residual effects o f this injury for more than s ix months. 5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil actio n for damages as a resu l t of her condition. 6. Respondent denies tha t the flu vacc ine is the cause of petitioner's alleged SIRVA or any other injury or her current condi tio n.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 St ip ulation. 8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with the terms of th i s Stipulat i on, 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$131,962.3 3 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Th is amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C
. § 300aa-l 5(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 e l ection to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2 l (a)( I) , and an applicat ion, the parties will subm it to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this petition. 10. Petitioner and her attorney repre s ent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for i tems or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa

- I 5(g), including State compensation programs, insurance policie s, Fe deral or State health benefits programs (other than T itle XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.)), or entities tha t provide health services on a pre-paid basis. 11. 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-15(i), subject t o the availability of sufficient statutory funds.



### 212. The parties and their attorneys f urther agree and stipulate that, except for any award for att orneys' fees and litigation costs and pa st 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-l S(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S .C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h). 13. In return for the payments described in paragraph s 8 and 9, petitioner, in her individual capacity, and on behalf of her heirs, executors, administrators, successors or 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 Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U
. S.C. § 300aa-l Oet seq., on account of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal in ju ries to or death of petitioner resulting from, or alleged to have resulted from, the flu vaccination administered on October 8, 20 I 4, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about October 5, 2017, in the United States Court o f Federal Claims as petition No. 17-1442Y. 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 i n complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation or if the 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
.


### 316. 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 patties further agree and understand that the award described in this Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties' respective positions as to l i abili t y and /or amount of damages, and furth er, 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 th is agreement. 17. This Stipu l ation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vacc i ne caused petitioner's alleged SIR YA
or any other injury or her current condition. 18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner ' s heirs, executors, adm i nistrators, successors, and/or assigns.


### I I I I I 

### I I I I I I 

### I 

### I I I I 

### I END OF STIPU L ATION



### 4Respectfully submitted, PETfTIONER:


## nr1 · A FOTUJ II
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR PETITIONER:

# ~**~** 7)~ PAUL D. f3EKMAN BEK:vl/\N , M/\IWF.R & /\OKINS, LLC 130 West Pratt Streel Suit~ 450 Baltimor<.:, Maryland 21201 (4 I 0) ') :\9

- 6633

AUTHORIZED REPRESENl 

### Arrvr. OF THE SECRETARY 

### OF HEAl rH /\ND J ll lMAN SERVICES: 

# uJ~d :s $~U(., 

# cf~ Ni\R/~ YAN NAIR, M.D. Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs l l calthcare Systems I3urcau U.S. Department ol'Tlcalth a11cl Human Services 5600 Fisher s Lane Parklawn Building, Mail Slop 08Nl46B Rock ville, MD 20857


### Dated: '-i / l "'is 

### / 1 '5 

# __ ...:.,___;__; 

# _____ /\UT! IOR.11/.ED REPRFSENTATIVE OF fl IE Ar l"OR\:E\' GENERAL : 

# [l

__ 'A 'II/\RlNE E. REEVES Deputy Director rorls Branch Civi l Division U. S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Frnnklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR RESPONDENT:



# ~ - ci.A**~** 

# C I /\l~A A. EN(iLUND '-" Trial /\Horney Tort<; Branch Civil Division lJ.S. Department 

## or Justice P
. O. Box 146 1.knjarnin Frank l in Station Washington, DC 20044-0J.16 (202) 307-3013