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

No. 16 -1666V Filed: March 16, 2018 UNPUBLISHED

DAWN ANDREWS ,

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)

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 

## Dorsey , Chief Special Master: On December 20, 2016 , petitionerfiled 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 t o Vaccine Administration ( “ SIRVA ” ) as a result of receiving the influenza ( “ flu ” ) vaccine on November 24, 2015. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed March 15, 2018, at¶ ¶ 1-2. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months. Petition at 5 ; Stipulation at ¶ 4

. “ Respondent denies that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a SIRVA or any other injury. ” Stipulation at¶ 6. Nevertheless, o n March 15, 2018, 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.

1 

### Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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). 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.

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



## Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation , the undersigned awards the following compensation: A lump sum of $70,000.00 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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

**DAWN AND**  **R EW**  **S,**



### P**e ti**  **ti oner**  **, v.**  **SECRETARY** 

### OF **HEALTH** 

### AND **HUMAN SERVICES,**  **Respondent.** 

## ) **) )**  **) )**  **No.** 

### 16-1666V **) Chief**  **Special Master**  **Dorsey** 

## ) **ECF** 

## ) **) )**  **)**

**STIPULATION The**  **part i**  **e s**  **hereby stipulate**  **to the**  **following matters:**  **1.** 

### Dawn **A n**  **d r** **ew**

### s **, 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 iajuries allegedly**  **related to**  **petitioner's receipt**  **of an**  **influenza vaccine,**  **which** 

### v **a c**  **c i**  **n e**  **is contained**  

### in **the** 

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

**. 2.**  **Petitioner received**  **the influenza**  **immunization on**  **November 24,**  **201 S.**  **3. The**  **vaccination was**  **administered w**  **i t** 

### hin **the United**  **States. 4.**  **Petitioner alleges**  **that she**  **suffered a**  **Shoulder Inju1·y**  **Related to**  **Vaccine Administration**  **("SIRVA") as**  **a result**  **o f**  **rec e**  **i v**  **i n**  **g the**  **influenza** 

### vaccine, **and e**  **x p**  **e** 

### ri **e n**  **ce d**  **the residual**  **effects of**  **this i**  

## nj **ury** 

### for **more than**  **six months.**  

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

### civil **action for**  **damages on**  **he1· behalf**  **as a**  **result of**  **her condition.**  

### 6. **Respondent d**  **e n**  

### i **e s**  **that the**  

### i **n** 

### fl **u en**  **za vaccine**  **c a**  **u s**  **e d**  **petitioner to**  **suffer a**  **SIRVA or** **any other**  **injury.** 

### 7. **M a**  **i n** 

**t a**  **i n**  **i n**  

### g **their** **above*stated** **positions, the**  **parties nevertheless**  **now agree**  **th a** **t the**  **issues between**  **them shall**  **be settled**  **and that**  **a decision**  **should be entered**  **a w**  **a r**  **d i**  **n g**  **t h**  **e compensation**  **described in**  **p a**  **r a**  

### g **r a** **p h**  

### 8 **of this**  **Stipulation.** 

### 8. **As** 

### soo **n as**  **practicable after**  **an entry**  **of judgment**  **r e**  

### fl **e c** 

**tin g**  **a** 

### decision **c o**  **ns** 

### i **st e**  **n t**  **with the**  **te rm**  **s** 

### of **this Stipulation,**  **and after**  **pet itioner**  **h a**  **s** 

### filed **an e**  **l e**  **c t**  **i o**  **n to**  **receive compensation**  **pursuant to**  **42 U**  **.S.C. §**  **300aa-2** 

## l (a)(l ), **the Secretary**  **of Health**  **a nd**  **Human Services**  **will is**  **s u**  **e the**  

## f **o l**  **l owi**  **n g**  **vaccine compensation**  **payment: A**  **lump sum**  **of $70,000.00**  

### i **n the**  

### form **of a**  **check p** **a y**  **a** 

### b **l e**  **to p**  **e t**  **i ti**  **o n** **e r** 

## . **This amount**  **re p**  **r**

**e s** **e n**  **t s**  **compensation for**  **all damages**  **that would**  **be a** **v a**  **i l**  

### ab **l e**  **under 42**  **U.S.C. § 300aa-l5(a).**  **9. As**  **soon as**  **practicable after**  **the entry**  **of j**  **udgmer: i** **t on**  **entitlement i n**  

# � **his case,**  **and after**  **petitioner has**  **filed both**  **a p**  **r o**  **p e**  **r and**  **timely election**  **to receive**  **c o**  **mpe n**  **s a** **t i**  **o n**  **pul'Suant to**  **42 U.S.C.**  **§ 300aa-21(a)(J), and**  **an application,**  **the p**  **a rtie** **s will**  **su b**  **m i**  **t to**  **further proceedings**  **before the**  **special m**  **a s**  **t e**  **r to**  **award r** 

### e**a s**  **o n**  **a ble**  **attorneys' fees**  **and costs**  **incurred in**  **proceeding** 

### upon **this petition.**  **10.** 

### P **et iti**  **o n**  **er and**  **her attorney**  **represent that**  **compensation to**  **be provided**  **pursuant to**  **this** 

### Stipulation **is not**  

### for **any i**  **t �**  **m s**  **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 r** **e a**  **s o**  **n a** **bl y**  **be expected**  **to be**  **m ad**  **e under**  **any S**  **t a** **t e**  **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**  **s e**  **rv i**  **c e** **s on**  **a pr** 

**e- pai**  **d basis.** 



### 2**11.** 

### P **a yme** **n**

### t **made pursuant**  **to paragraph**  

### 8 **of t**  **h i**  **s Stipulation**  **and any**  **amounts awarded** 

**p ur**  **s u**  **a nt**  **to pamgraph**  

### 9 **of this**  **Stipulation w**  

### i **l l**  **be made**  **in accordance**  

### with **42 U.S.C.**  **§ 300aa**  **15(i), s**  **u b**  

## j **ec t**  **to the**  **availability of**  **sufficient statutory**  **funds. 12.**  **The parties**  **and** 

### their **attorneys further**  **agree and**  **s t**  **i** 

### p **u l**  **a** 

### t**e that,**  **except for**  **any award**  **for attorneys'**  **fees and**  **litigation costs,**  **and past**  **unreimbursed expenses,**  **the money**  **p r** **o v**  **i d**  **ed pursuant**  **to this**  **Stipulation w**  **i l**  **l be**  **used solely**  

### for **the benefit**  **of petitioner**  **as c**  **o n** **te m**  **pl at** **ed by**  **a** 

### strict **construction of**  

### 42 **U.S.C. § 300aa"**  **IS( a)**  **and (d),**  **and subject**  **to the**  **conditions of**  **42 U.S.C.**  **§ 300aaH15(g) and**  **(h).** 

### 13. **In r** **et ur** **n** 

### for **t h**  **e 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 t**  **h e**  

### United S**ta t** 

**e s**  **and the**  **Secretary of**  **Health and**  

### H **u ma**  **n Services**  **from any**  **and** 

### al I **actions or**  **causes of**  **a ct**  **i o**  **n (incl** **uding agreements,**  **judgments, claims,**  **damages, loss**  **of services,**  **expenses and**  **all demands**  **of w**  **h a** **t ev**  **er kind**  **or nature)**  **th at**  **have been**  **brought, could**  **have been**  **b** 

### r**o u**  **gh t,**  **or c**  **o u**  **l d**  **be timely**  **brought in**  **the Court**  **of Federal**  **Claims, under**  **the National Vaccine [njury**  **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**  **uns u**  **s p**  **e ct**  **ed p** **e r**  **s o**  **n a**  **l inj**  **ur i**  **e s**  **to or**  **death of**  **petitioner l'esuitin** **g from,**  **or alleged**  **to have**  **resulted from,**  **the influenza**  **vaccination administered**  **on N**  **ov e**  **m be** **r 24,**  **2015, as**  **alleged by**  **p eti**  **t i**  **o n**  **e r**  **in a**  **p e**  

### t **i t** 

### i **o n**  

### for **vaccine compensation**  **flied on**  **or about**  **December 20,**  **2016, in**  **the United**  **States Court of**  **Federal Claims**  **as p**  **e t**  

### i **t**

### i **o n**  **No. 16-1666V.**  

### 14. If **petitioner shout**  **d d**  **i e**  **pr io**  **r to**  **entry of**  **judgment, this**  **agreement shall**  **be voidable**  **upon proper**  **notice to**  **the** 

### Court **on** 

### b **eh a**  **l** 

### f **of e**  

### i **t he** **r or**  **b o**  

### t **h of**  

### the **p a**  

### rt **i e**  **s .** 



### 3**15. If**  **the special**  **master fails**  **to issue**  **a decision**  **in complete**  **conformity with**  **the terms**  **of** 

### this **Stipulation or**  **if the**  **Comt of**  **Federal Cl**  **a** 

### i **ms fails**  **to enter**  **jud gment**  

### in **confonnity with**  **a decision**  **that is**  **in complete**  **conformity** 

### with **the tel'ms**  **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**  **c la**  **i m**  **e d**  **under the**  **National Childhood**  **Vaccine Injury**  **Act** 

### of **19 86,**  **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. T**  **h** 

### e **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 **ofthe** 

### i **n** 

## j **u** 

### ry **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**  **influenza vaccine**  **caused petitioner**  **to have**  **a** 

### SIRVA **or any**  

### othe1· **injury. 18.**  

### All **rights and**  **obligations of**  **petitioner hereunder**  **shall apply**  **equally to**  **petitioner's heirs,**  **executors, administrators,**  **successors, and/or**  **assigns.**



### I **I I**  **I I**  **I I**  **I I**  **I I**  **END OF**  **STIPULATION**



### 4