Court Opinion

ID: 4456638
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-18 17:04:50.363299+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:16.733197
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-689V
                                     Filed: August 30, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JEFFREY STRAIN,

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

Danielle Anne Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On May 15, 2018, petitioner 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 27, 2016. Petition at 1, 3; Stipulation, filed August 30, 2019, at ¶¶ 1-2, 4.
Petitioner further alleges that he received the vaccine in the United States, that he
experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months, and that there has
been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result
of his condition. Petition at 1, 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
2National 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).
alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and denies that his current condition is a
sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

        Nevertheless, on August 30, 2019, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $115,707.14 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.

       The undersigned approves 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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.

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

JEFFREY STRAIN,                                )
                                               )
                Petitioner,                    )      No. 18-689V
                                               )      Chief Special Master
        V.                                     )      Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               )      ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                            )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            )
                                               )
                Respondent.                    )

                                            STIPULATION

        The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Jeffrey Strain, 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. § I 00.3(a).

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccination on or about October 27, 2016.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that the vaccine caused him to develop a shoulder injury related to

vaccine administration ("SIRVA"), within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the

alternative, that his shoulder injury was caused by the vaccine. He further alleges that he

experienced the residual effects of this condition 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 petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the

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

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 $115,707.14 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-2l(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 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 of this Stipulation, and any amount awarded

pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation, will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

l 5(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-l 5(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 her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and/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 Oet 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 or

about October 27, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on

or about May 15, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-689V

        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, 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 SIRVA,

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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    Respectfully submitted,

                                  J

~   ATTORNEYOFRECORDFOR                         AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
    PETmONER:                                   OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

                                                ~ u--
                  '

                A. STRAIT, ESQ.                  ~EE.REEVES
    Maglio Christopher & Toale                  Deputy Director
    701 5th Avenue, Suite 3505                  Torts Branch
    Seattle, Washington 98104                   Civil Division
    Tel: (888) 952-5242                         U.S. Department of Justice
                                                P.O. Box 146
                                                Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                Washington, DC 20044-0146

    AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                   ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
    OFTHESECRETARYOFHEALTH                      RESPONDENT:
    AND HUMAN SERVICES:

    TAMARA OVERBY                               LINDA S. RENZI
    Acting Director, Division of Injury         Senior Trial Counsel
    Compensation Programs                       Torts Branch
    Healthcare Systems Bureau                   Civil Division
    U.S. Department of Health                   U.S. Department of Justice
    and Human Services                          P.O. Box 146
    5600 Fishers Lane                           Benjamin Franklin Station
    Park.lawn Building, Mail Stop 08N146B       Washington, DC 20044-0146
    Rockville, MD 20857                         Tel: (202) 616-4133

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