Court Opinion

ID: 6328268
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-30 17:01:59.115157+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:37.708071
License: Public Domain

Sn the Gunited States Court of Federal Claing

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: March 1, 2022

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
KATHLEEN SCHMIDT, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * No. 19-0051V
*
V. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision on Stipulation;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (‘flu’); Shoulder
* Injury Related to Vaccine
Respondent. * Administration (“SIRVA”).
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kathleen M. Loucks, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for petitioner.
Mark K. Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

DECISION ON STIPULATION!

On January 9, 2019, Kathleen Schmidt (“petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Program.” Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleges that as a
result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 21, 2017, she suffered a left
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Id.

On March 1, 2022, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 67). Respondent denies that
the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s left shoulder injury or any other injury. /d. at J 6.
Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties now agree that the issues
between them shall bet settled that a decision should be entered awarding the compensation to
the petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at { 7.

 

' Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” /d. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. /d.

 

2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. §
300aa.
The stipulation provides:

1) A lump sum of $80,000.00 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-15(a).

Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with
the terms of the stipulation and this decision.*

IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen

Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master

 

3 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).
In the Anited States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 

KATHLEEN SCHMIDT,
Petitioner,
Case No. 19-51V (ECF)
V. SPECIAL MASTER GOWEN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.

 

 

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

I. Kathleen Schmidt, 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 the influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the

“Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

2. Petitioner received the vaccine on November 21, 2017.
3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.
4, Petitioner alleges that she sustained a left shoulder injury related to vaccine

administration (“SIRVA”) within the Table time period after receiving the flu vaccine, and
alleges that she experienced 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 alleged injuries.
6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained the onset of a SIRVA Table injury
within the Table timeframe and further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged left
shoulder injury, any other injury, or her current condition.

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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human
Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $80,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount

represents compensation for ail damages that would be available under

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment 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)(1), 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 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. § 300aa-15(1), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

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-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 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 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 November 17, 2017,
as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about January 9, 2019,
in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-51V.

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.

16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability
and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act 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 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 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 left
shoulder injury or any other injury or her current condition.

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

END OF STIPULATION
Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

Kathleen Schmidt

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR

PETITIONER: iy

KATHLEEN M. LOUCKS
Counsel for Petitioner

Lommen Abdo, P.A.

920 Second Ave. S., Suite 1000
Minneapolis, MN 55402
kloucks@lommen.com

(612) 336-9348

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

Digitally signed by George R.
George R. Grimes -S14 Grimes -si4
Date: 2022.02.18 12:13:47 -05'00'

 

CDR GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD. MPH
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, 08N146B
Rockville, MD 20857

Dated: 63 (ol \2o22

 

AUTHORIED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

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

ATTONEY OF RECORD FOR
RESPONDENT:

 

MARK K. HELLIE

Trial Attorney

U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
mark.hellie@usdoj.gov

(202) 616-4208