In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1866V

Filed: July 17, 2019

UNPUBLISHED

TIFFANY TWOFOOT,

 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)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for 

petitioner.

Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for 

respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On December 1, 2017, 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 alleges that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to 

Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a consequence of the influenza (“flu”)

immunization she received on or about October 7, 2016, and further alleges that she 

suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petition at 1-2; 

Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that petitioner suffered the onset of her alleged 

SIRVA within the Table timeframe; denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s 

 

1 The undersigned 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 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the 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 subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).
2

alleged SIRVA or any other injury and further denies that her current disabilities are a 

sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

Nevertheless, on July 11, 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 terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned

awards the following compensation:

A lump sum of $152,935.11, 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 § 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 

TIFFANY TWOFOOT, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

No. 17-1866V 

Chief Special Master Dorsey 

ECF 

SECRETARY OF HEALTII AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent. 

STIPULATION 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

I. Petitioner, Tiffany Twofoot, 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 influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the 

"Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a). 

2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on or about October 7, 2016. 

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 

4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration 

("SIRVA")~ a consequence of the flu immunization she received on or about October 7, 2016, 

and further alleges that she suffered 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 on her behalf as a result of her condition. 

Page 1 of 5 
6. Respondent denies that petitioner suffered the onset of her alleged SIRVA within the 

Table timeframe; denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged SIRVA 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-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the 

following vaccine compensation payment: 

A lump swn of $152,935.11, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, 

representing 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 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-l 5(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. 

Page2of5 
11. Payment 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-15(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 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 7, 2016, as 

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about December 1, 2017 in 

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-1866V. 

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. 

Page 3 of 5 
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 

confonnity with a decisi_on that is in complete confonnity 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 A.ct 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 SIRVA 

or any other injury or any of her current disabilities. 

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

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

END OF STIPULATION 

Page4 of5 
RespectfuJly submitted, 

PETITIONER: 

A1TORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

PETITIONER: 

~~ LAW OFFICES OF LEAH V. DURANT, PLLC 

1717 K Street, NW 

Suite900 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 775-9200 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF 

mE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES: 

NARAYAN NAIR, M.D. 

Director, Division of 

Injury Compensation Programs (DICP) 

Healthcare Systems Bureau 

U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services 

5600 Fishers Lane 

Parklawn Building, Stop-08NI 468 

Rockville, MD 20857 

Dated: ___ :f / __ I\........,/ \~-

PagcSofS 

AUTHORIZED REPRF.SENTATIVE 

OF THE A1TORNEY GENERAL: 

CA ARINE E. REEVES 

uty Director 

Torts Branch 

Civil Division 

U. S. Department of Justice 

P. 0 . Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

ATIORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

RESPONDENT: 

'd_ dlli•." t; ¥ 

LORI B. OPENCHOWSKI 

Trial Attorney 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

U.S.DepartmentofJustice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

Tel: (202)305-0660