Court Opinion

ID: 5121638
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-28 13:02:08.070183+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:23.569334
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0298V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    LINDA STUKER,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: September 21, 2021
    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)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
      Petitioner.

Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On March 16, 2020, Linda Stuker 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”), which meets the Table definition for SIRVA, after receiving the
influenza vaccine on January 16, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 10; Stipulation, filed at Sept.
21, 2021, ¶¶ 1-2, 5. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her
SIRVA for more than six months and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil
action or received compensation for her injury. Petition at ¶¶ 10-11; Stipulation at ¶¶ 4-
5. Respondent “denies that [P]etitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the
vaccine caused [P]etitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that
her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 September 21, 2021, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I 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, I award the following
compensation:

    1. A lump sum payment of $10,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
       Petitioner; and

    2. A lump sum payment of $2,393.69, representing reimbursement of a
       Medicaid lien for services rendered to Petitioner by the State of Montana, in
       the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Department of Public
       Health and Human Services, and mailed to:

                       Department of Public Health and Human Services,
                                 Quality Assurance Division
                                      P.O. Box 202953
                                      Helena, MT 59620
                                     Medicaid ID: 14619.

Stipulation at ¶ 8. Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to Department of Public Health
and Human Services for satisfaction of the Medicaid lien. This amount represents
compensation for all items of damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id.

       I 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 the court is directed
to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3

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.

                                                    2
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIM:S
                          omCE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 LINDA STUKER,

                Petitioner,                             No. 20-298V        ECF

 v.                                                     Chief Special Master Core oran

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

                                         STIPULATION
       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Linda Stuker (''petitioner"), filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccme Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (tru: "Vaccine

Program"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly relate~ to peti1icmer's receipt

of an influenza ('1lu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Tab:le (the

'7able"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on January 16, 2018.

       :t The vaccine was adr:nroistered within the United States.
       4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injucy related to vaccine, adnrioistration

(''SIRVAn) within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the alternative, that her alleged ·

shoulder injury was caused by the vaccine. She further alleges that she experienc,,d·th~ residual

effects oftlm condition for more than silt months.

                                                  1
          S. Petitioner represents that there bas been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on her behalf as a result of her alleged injury.

          6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injllryj dc:nies that the

vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and dem~s that her

CUITCnt   condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related iajury.

          7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the

issues between them shall be settled, and that a decision sboukt be entered awar42 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 and any amounts awardedpumuant to

paragraph 9 oftJm Stipulafun will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject

to the av~ilability of sufficient statutory funds.

            12. The parties and their atto~eys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award

for attorney's fees and litigation costs, and past umeimbursable expenses, the mot1ey provided

pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solcly for the benefit of petitioner as contomplated by a

strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa~ 15(a) and (cl), and subject to the conditiow, of 42 U.S.C.
                               .     .             .                                              .

§ 300aa-15(g) and (h).

                                                     3
        13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her

.individual capacity, and on behalf of her heirs, ex:ecutors, admilmtrators, 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 cif action

(including agreements, judgments, cJaim.s, damages, Joss of services, expenses ami all demands

~f whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or could be timeJy

brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Comp,::nsation

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 fhl vaccination administered on January 16, 2018, as

alleged in a petition for vaccine compensawn filed" on or about March 16, 2020, in the United

States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-298V.

        ~4. ~f-petitioner should die poor to entry of~dgment, this agreement sha:[ 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 confonnity ~vith the terms

of this Stipulation or ;f the Court of Federal Claims fam to enter judgment in conformity with a

decision that is in complete conformity with the teims 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 o:fJiability and·

damages cJaimed under the National Cbiklh.ood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as aniended, except

as otherwi,e 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 ~ herein eJtpressly stated

                                                   4
and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand ·that the award o,scribed in trus

Stipu]ation may reflect a compron:me of the parties' respective positions as to linbility and/or

amomt of damages, and further, that a change in the natme of the injury or condition or mthe

items of compensation sought,    ~   not grounds to modify or revise tlm 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 injury or
                        .            .

any other injury or her current disabilities, or that petitioner suffered an injury ccintained in the

Vaccine Injury Table.

        18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                         END OF STIPULATION

                                                   5
   Respectfully submitted,

  ATTORNEYOFRECORDFOR                          AUfflORI.ZED REPRESE:NTATIVE
  PETITIONER:   .                              OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

  ~(~
   LEAH V. DURANT
                                               ~~~
                                               HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
   LAW OFFICES OF LEAH V. DURANT, PLLC         Deputy Director
   1717 K Street, Suite 900                    Torts Branch
   Washington, D.C. 2006                       Civil D~ion
   (202) 652-1178                              U.S. Department of Justice
                                               P.O.Box 146
                                               Benjamin Franklin Station
                                               Washington, DC 20044-0146

  AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                    ATIORNEY OF RECORD FOR        1

  OFfflESECRETARYOFBEALTH                      RESPONDENT:
  AND HUMAN SERVICES:
                                                    .. 't- w a..ok-1
Z)~ ~ I z;,ri:15:c,, ,(1/JM, L6-t-
 TAMARA OVERBY                        0-
                                               ~tk~u_
                                                    ~
                                               ZO£R. WADE
 Acting Director, Div:isjon of Iajury          Trial Attorney
   Compensation Programs (DICP)                Torts Branch
  Heahh Systems Bureau                         Civil Division
  He11,Jth Resources and Services              U. S. pepartment of Justice
   Adzµinistration        .                    P.O.Box 146
  U.S. Departn:i.ent of Health                 Benjamin Franklin
   and Human Services                          Washington, DC 20044-0146
  5600 Fishers Lane, 08Nl46B                   (202) 616--4118
  Rockville, MD 20857                          Ema.ii: me.wade@usdoj.gov

  Dated;   o:,(z,, }-znJ

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