Court Opinion

ID: 4681116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-26 20:04:27.746836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:59.352222
License: Public Domain

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

******************** *
CONSTANCE CONNOR,        *                         No. 18-1489V
                         *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
             Petitioner, *
                         *                         Filed: March 24, 2021
v.                       *
                         *                         Stipulation; Influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         bilateral adhesive capsulitis;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         hyperthyroidism; elevated
                         *                         intraocular pressure; heel pain;
             Respondent. *                         shoulder injury related to vaccine
******************** *                             administration (“SIRVA”).

John Taylor, Zaytoun Law Firm, Raleigh, NC, for Petitioner;
Christine Becer, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                             UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

       On March 24, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Constance Connor on September 27, 2018.
Petitioner alleged that an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 20,
2015, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R.
§100.3(a), caused her to suffer from bilateral adhesive capsulitis, hyperthyroidism,
elevated intraocular pressure, and left heel pain. In amended petition, petitioner
also alleged that she sustained a left should injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”). Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this
injury for more than six months. 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.

       1 The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
      Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from
SIRVA, bilateral adhesive capsulitis, hyperthyroidism, elevated intraocular
pressure, and left heel pain, or any other injury.

      Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

       A lump sum payment of $240,000.00 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).

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached
stipulation.2

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                     s/Christian J. Moran
                                                     Christian J. Moran
                                                     Special Master

       2  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Fed eral
Claims judge.
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