Court Opinion

ID: 4310971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-10 16:02:04.091013+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:26.644560
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 14-077V
                                    Filed: August 16, 2018

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
JOSEPH PAULOWSKY,       *                                          UNPUBLISHED
                        *
          Petitioner,   *                                          Decision on Joint Stipulation;
                        *                                          Shoulder Injury Related to
v.                      *                                          Vaccine Injury (“SIRVA”);
                        *                                          Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,     *
                        *
          Respondent.   *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mark Sadaka Esq., Mark T. Sadaka, LLC, Englewood, NJ, for petitioner.
Lara Englund, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Roth, Special Master:

        On January 27, 2014, Joseph Paulowsky [“Mr. Paulowsky or “petitioner”] filed a petition
for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner initially
alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on November 1, 2011, caused him to develop
a systemic inflammatory response leading to a heart attack and decreased cardiac strength and
function. Stipulation, filed August 16, 2018, at ¶¶ 1-4. On February 24, 2017, petitioner filed an

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-
347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the 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. Id.
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).

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amended petition alleging that the flu vaccine also caused a shoulder injury. Id. at ¶ 4. Respondent
denies that the aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injuries. Stipulation at ¶ 6.

         Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On August 16, 2018, the parties
filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.

Respondent agrees to issue the following payment:

           A lump sum of $50,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Joseph
           Paulowsky. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
           available under § 300aa-15(a).

        I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance
with this decision.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                              Mindy Michaels Roth
                                              Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
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                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

JOSEPH PAULOWSKY,                                     )
                                                      )
                        Petitioner,                   )
                                                      )
       v.                                             ) No. 14-77V
                                                      ) Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth
SECRETARY OF                                          )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            )
                                                      )
                        Respondent.                   )
                                                      )

                                            STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Petitioner Joseph Paulowsky (“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 vaccine is contained in the Vaccine

Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on or about November 1, 2011.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner initially alleged that the flu vaccine caused him to develop a systemic

inflammatory response leading to a heart attack and decreased cardiac strength and function. On

February 24, 2017, petitioner filed an amended petition alleging that the flu vaccine also caused

a shoulder injury. Petitioner alleges that he experienced residual effects of these injuries for

more than six months.

       5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages as a result of his condition.
        6. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged

inflammatory response, cardiac injury, shoulder injury, or any other injury or his 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 $50,000.00, 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).

        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-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 his attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all

known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including 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 entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

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        11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to

paragraph 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-15(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in his

individual capacity, and on behalf of his 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 1, 2011, as

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about January 27, 2014,

and subsequently amended on February 24, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims

as petition No. 14-77V.

        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.

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       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

inflammatory response, cardiac injury, shoulder injury, or any other injury or his 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
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