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

No. 18 - 0601 V Filed: August 30, 2019 UNPUBLISHED
SULE SOYSAL , 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)
Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY , for petitioner. Debra A. Filteau Begley , U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 Dorsey , Chief Special Master: On April 26, 2018 , 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 she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ( “ SIRVA ” ) as a result of an influenz a vaccine received on September 27 , 2017 . Petition at 1 ; Stipulation , filed August 30, 2019 , at ¶ ¶ 1 - 4

. Petitioner further alleges that she received th e vaccine in the Un ited States, that s he experienced resi dual effects of this injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her be half as a result of her condi tion . Petit ion at 1, 4 - 5 ; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3 - 5

. “ Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the in fl uenza vaccine ca used petitioner ’ s

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 informati on, 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 u npublished 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) (Federa l 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 g raph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012 ).2

alleged shoulder injur ies, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela e of a vaccine
- rela te d injury. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, o n August 30, 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 $ 80,000.00 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 STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

## **·•··························••***** SUL)!: SOYSAL, 

# • * 

# • Petitioner, No. 18-601V CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER DORSEY V. 

### SECRETARY OF HEAL TH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 

# • • 

# • • • * Respondent. • 

# ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: I. 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 alleged l y related to petitioner's receipt of an i nfluenza vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a). 2. Petitioner received an influenza immunization on September 27, 2017
. 3
. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 4
. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table. She further alleges that she has experienced 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 on her behalf as a result of her condition.6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. 7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the issues between them shall b e settl ed and that a dec is ion 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)( 1 ), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vacc i ne compensation payment: A lump sum of $80,000.00 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-l 5(a). 9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entit lement in this case, and after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to rece i ve compensation pursuant to 42 U
. S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), and an application, the parties will su bmit to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this petition. IO. Petitioner and her 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- lS(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.

211. 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-l 5(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, 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-l 5(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 paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her individual capacity and on behalfof 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 O 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, an influenza vaccination administered on September 27, 2017, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about April 26, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-60 IV. 14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment , this agreement shall be voidable upon proper notice to the Court on behalfof either or both of the parties.

3I 5. 

### If the special master fails to issue a decision in 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 parti es' 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 position s 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 co mpensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement. 17. This Stipulation shall not be con s trued as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that pet itioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury ; that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; or that her current condition i s a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. 18. All r ig hts and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner 's heirs , executors, administrators , successors, and/or assigns.

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