Court Opinion

ID: 4189715
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-26 20:03:12.479707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:35.129550
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-208V
                                    Filed: January 31, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
TALIA SERVICE,                        *
                                      *
                  Petitioner,         *       Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                    *       Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis
                                      *       (Tdap) Vaccination; Shoulder Injury
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *       Related to Vaccine Administration
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *       (SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
                                      *       (“SPU”)
                  Respondent.         *
                                      *
****************************
Michael G. McLaren, Black McLaren, et al., PC, Memphis, TN, for petitioner.
Ann Donohue Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On February 10, 2016, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) vaccination on July 28, 2014. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed January 30, 2017,
at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received her vaccination in the United
States, and that she suffered the sequela of her injury for more than six months. Petition
at ¶¶ 1, 13; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-4. Petitioner additionally represents that there has been
no previous action brought, award received, or settlement of a civil action for damages
on her behalf as a result of her injury. Petition at 14; Stipulation at ¶ 5. “Respondent
denies that the Tdap vaccination caused petitioner to suffer SIRVA or any other injury.”
Stipulation at ¶ 6.

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
        Nevertheless, on January 30, 2017, 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.

        The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $50,000.00 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 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