Court Opinion

ID: 6350712
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-17 13:01:19.761791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:29.959108
License: Public Domain

Sn the Guited States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 

No. 20-0761V
UNPUBLISHED
GERALDINE TALLEY, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: May 4, 2022
V.
Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
HUMAN SERVICES, (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration
Respondent. (SIRVA)

 

 

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION'

On June 24, 2020, Geraldine Talley filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seqg.* (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA’), a defined Table injury, after receiving the influenza vaccine on
September 5, 2018. Petition at 1, § 2; Stipulation, filed at May 4, 2022, 7 1-2, 4. Petitioner
further alleges that she received the vaccine in the United States and that neither she nor
any other party has filed a civil case or received compensation for her SIRVA injury.
Petition at JQ 2, 13-14; Stipulation at ¥§ 3-5. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner
sustained the onset of a SIRVA Table injury within the Table timeframe and further denies
that the flu vaccine caused [Pletitioner’s alleged right shoulder injury, any other injury, or
her current condition.” Stipulation at J] 6.

 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, | am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, | agree that the identified material fits within this definition, | 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
Nevertheless, on May 4, 2022, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating
that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. | 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, | award the following
compensation:

A lump sum of $32,500.00 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 Section 15(a). /d.

| 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 Court is directed to
enter judgment in accordance with this decision.*®

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

 

GERALDINE TALLEY,
Petitioner,
Case No. 20-761V (ECF)
Vv. CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
CORCORAN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.

 

 

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

L. Geraldine Talley, 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 September 5, 2018.

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a right 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
right 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 $32,500.00 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 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(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 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 seg., 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 September 5, 2018, as
alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about June 24, 2020, in
the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-761V.

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 right
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:

Gergbre TeueYy

GERALDINE TALLEY

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR

 

Muller Brazil

715 Twining Road, Suite 208A
Dresher, PA 19025
bridget@mullerbrazil.com
(215) 885-1655

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES:
George R. Grimes - Distal signed by George R.
$14 Date: 2022.04.07 16:00:07 -04'00"

 

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: May 7, Cote

 

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:

“Whee lebhber
MARK K. HELLIE

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146

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

(202) 616-4208