In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 14-724V

Filed: February 17, 2016

UNPUBLISHED

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SARA ERICKSON, *

*

Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;

* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; 

* Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Administration (“SIRVA”);

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)

*

Respondent. *

*

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Maximillian Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Lisa Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On August 11, 2014, Sara Erickson (“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 caused 

by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on November 25, 2013. Petition at 1; see 

also Stipulation, filed Feb. 17, 2016, ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she

continues to suffer the effects of her injury and that neither she nor anyone else has 

brought an action or has received compensation for her injuries. Petition, ¶¶ 12-13; see 

also Stipulation ¶¶ 4-5. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s 

alleged right shoulder injury, or any other injury, and further denies that petitioner’s 

current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation, ¶ 6. 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended 

at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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 subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).
2

Nevertheless, on February 17, 2016, 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.

The parties stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

A lump sum of $162,622.09 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 

Stipulation, ¶ 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.
Case 1:14-vv-00724-UNJ Document 27 Filed 02/17/16 Page 1 of 5
Case 1:14-vv-00724-UNJ Document 27 Filed 02/17/16 Page 2 of 5
Case 1:14-vv-00724-UNJ Document 27 Filed 02/17/16 Page 3 of 5
Case 1:14-vv-00724-UNJ Document 27 Filed 02/17/16 Page 4 of 5
Case 1:14-vv-00724-UNJ Document 27 Filed 02/17/16 Page 5 of 5