Court Opinion

ID: 4319434
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-11 20:03:31.109618+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:29.358378
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0410V
                                      Filed: July 13, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    ZACHARY SCHNEIDER,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
                        Petitioner,                          Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus
    v.                                                       Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
                                                             Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                      Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
    AND HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Danielle Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 23, 2017, Zachary Schneider (“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 left
shoulder injury as a result of a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine
he received on June 3, 2015. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 13, 2018, at ¶ 4.
Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of his injury for more than
six months. Petition at 2; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the Tdap
immunization is the cause of petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury or
condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on July 13, 2018, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.
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).
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. A lump sum of $4,017.77 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, for
           past unreimbursable expenses; and

        b. A lump sum of $81,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
           for all remaining damages. Stipulation at ¶ 8.

These amounts represent compensation for all items of damages that would be
available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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.

                                                      2