In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1360V

UNPUBLISHED

AMBER QUINTAL,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: November 29, 2021

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; TetanusDiphtheria-Acellular Pertussis 

Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to 

Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

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

Petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On September 27, 2017, Amber Quintal 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 caused by a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine administered

on April 12, 2010. Amended Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at November 23, 2021, ¶¶ 1, 

2. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, 

that she suffered the residual effects of her SIRVA for more than six months, and that 

there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf 

as a result of her condition. Petition at 1, 5-6 ; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-6. 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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

300aa (2012).
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On November 23, 2021, 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 the following 

compensation:

A lump sum of $162,500.00 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 Section 15(a). Id. 

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 

AMBER QUINTAL, 

Petitioner, 

V. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent. 

No. 17-1360V 

Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU) 

ECF 

STIPULATION 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

1. Amber Quintal, 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 a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the 

Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a). 

2. Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on April 12, 2010. 

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States. 

4. Petitioner sustained a left shoulder injury related to vaccination administration 

("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table following receipt of the Tdap vaccine, 

and experienced the residual effects of her SIRVA for more than six months. 

5. There is not a preponderance of evidence demonstrating that petitioner's injury is due 

to a factor unrelated to vaccination. 

6. 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. 
7. Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act 

for her SIRVA Table injury. Therefore, 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)(I), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue 

the following vaccine compensation payment: 

A lump sum of $162,500.00 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 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-2 l(a)(I), 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. 

I 0. 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-15(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. 

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

pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds. 

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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-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 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 United States Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l 0 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 Tdap vaccination administered on 

April 12, 2010, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about 

September 27, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. l 7-l 360V. 

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 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. 

3 
I 6. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and 

damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of I 986, 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 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. 

I 7. The Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's shoulder 

injury or any other injury or her current condition; however, petitioner has satisfied the Table 

criteria to establish entitlement to compensation. 

I 8. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's 

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

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END OF STIPULATION 

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Respectfully submitted, 

PETITIONER: 

AMBER QUINTAL 

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

PETITIONER: ~ 

~ ,ii-~ 

LEAH V. Df /4) ' 

Counsel for Petitioner 

LAW OFFICES OF LEAH V. Dt !RANT, PLLC 

1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 

Washington, DC 20006 

Phone:202-775-9200 

Email: ldurant@durantllc.com 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE SECRET ARY OF HEAL TH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES: 

z;:>&, ~I D~c.-, cf 1, 

TAMARA OVERBY 

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: /l /?--3 /)., ( 

5 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE ATTORNE)" GENERAL: 

ttlCL~ L f"~JKnq-.. 

bV"\ {),,u ~ is ~rock:_ 

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 

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR 

RESPONDENT: 

o.cin tLVL°'-1-l-l 1c , 

~~Ouk'.:AO~~ ~ ADRIANA TEITEL 

Trial Attorney 

Torts Branch. Civil Division 

U.S. Department of Justice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station 

Washington, DC 20044-0146 

Phone: 202-616-3677 

Email: adriana.teitel@usdoj.gov