Court Opinion

ID: 4694215
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-10 13:03:22.544407+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:28.035689
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 17-1008V
                                         (Not to be published)

*************************
MIGUEL LEAL, JR.,             *
                              *                                          Filed: February 2, 2021
                  Petitioner, *
                              *
          v.                  *
                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND       *
HUMAN SERVICES,               *
                              *
                  Respondent. *
                              *
*************************

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                  DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On July 26, 2017 Miguel Leal filed a petition seeking compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that he suffered from a
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza
vaccine administered on September 21, 2016. Id. at 2-3. Moreover, Petitioner alleged that he
experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

1
  Although not formally designated for publication, this Decision will be posted on the United States Court of Federal
Claims website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however,
the parties may object to the published Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically,
under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen days within which to request redaction “of any information
furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or
confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public
in its current form. Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
Individual section references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act (but will omit that statutory prefix).
       Respondent denies that Petitioner suffered a SIRVA table injury. (ECF No. 26). Petitioner
submitted two expert reports in support of his claim and Respondent submitted one expert report.
(ECF Nos. 14, 24, 37-1). Attempts to settle the case failed, so an entitlement hearing was held on
September 22, 2020. The parties thereafter agreed to re-engage in settlement negotiations.

        On February 2, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation maintaining their positions but agreeing
that the issues before them can be settled, and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner
compensation. (ECF No. 68). I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that
the parties’ stipulation (as attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in
awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.

         The stipulation awards:

         •    A lump sum payment of $50,000.00, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner Miguel
              Leal. This amount represents compensation for all elements of compensation under
              Vaccine Act Section 15(a) to which Petitioner is entitled.

        I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made to
Petitioner. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the Court is directed to enter judgment herewith.3

         IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                       /s/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                          Chief Special Master

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately)
a notice renouncing their right to seek review.

                                                           2