Court Opinion

ID: 4519254
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-25 12:01:48.745711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:53:03.382289
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-489V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    AMY GARZA,                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: February 14, 2020
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
                                                              (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
                        Respondent.                           Related to Vaccine Administration
                                                              (SIRVA)

Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

       On April 3, 2018, Amy Garza 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 (“SIRVA”) as a result of her influenza (“flu”) vaccination on December 22,
2016. Petition at 1-5; Stipulation, filed February 13, 2020, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further
alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that she suffered the
residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Stipulation at
¶¶ 3-5; Petition at ¶3, 18, 22-23. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA
Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged shoulder injuries, or any

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 E-
Government 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related
injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

        Nevertheless, on February 13, 2020, 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 $42,488.87 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 § 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.

                                                      2
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                      )
AMY GARZA,                                            )
                                                      )
                         Petitioner,                  )
                                                      )       No. 18-489V
V.                                                    )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                      )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               )
HUMAN SERVICES,                                       )
                                                      )
                         Respondent.                  )

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Amy Garza, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-l Oto -34 (the "Vaccine Program").

The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt of the

influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"),

42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on or about December 22, 2016.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration ("SIRVA") following her flu vaccine, within the time period set forth in the

Table, or in the alternative, that her alleged shoulder injuries were caused by the vaccine. She

further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her alleged injuries for more than six

months after vaccine administration.
       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 condition.

       6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the

vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and denies that her

current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.

       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)(l ), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

       A lump sum of $42,488.87 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)(l ), 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-l 5(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

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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. Payments made pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Stipulation will be made in

accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), 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 unreimbursable 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-l 5(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payment described in paragraph 8 and any amount awarded pursuant

to paragraph 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-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 flu vaccination

administered on December 22, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine

compensation filed on or about April 3, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as

petition No. l 8-489V.

                                                   3
        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 flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged SIRVA, any

other injury, or her current disabilities.

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

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

                                       END OF STIPULATION

I

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Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

                      W KI, ESQ.                     ARIN£ E. REEVES
Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA
IO l 5 I 5th Street, NW
Suite 1125                                     Civil Division
Washington, DC 20005                           U.S. Department of Justice
Tel: (888) 952-5242                            P.O. Box 146
                                               Benjamin Franklin Station
                                               Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF                   ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                    RESPONDENT:
HUMAN SERVICES:

    wad :s6~~
TAMARA OVERBY                                  C L A U ~- - -
Acting Director, Division of Injury            Senior Trial Attorney
Compensation Programs                          Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                      Civil Division
Health Resources and Services Administration   U.S. Dcpanment of Justice
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services   P.O. Box 146
5600 Fishers Lane                              Benjamin Franklin Station
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08NI46B           Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 20857                            Tel: (202) 616-4138

Datt!d:

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