Court Opinion

ID: 7799324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-09 21:01:18.572974+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:28:56.289319
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1184V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    JO ANN PUSICH-SILAS,                                        Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: July 7, 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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

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

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On September 11, 2020, Jo Ann Pusich-Silas 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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered
to her on October 2, 2018. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed on July 5, 2022, ¶¶ 2, 4.
Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccine in the United States, that she
experienced the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and there has
been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her alleged
condition. Petition at 1, 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner
sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the flu vaccine caused [P]etitioner’s alleged
shoulder injury, [or] any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequelae
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1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
2National 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 July 5, 2022, 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:

        A lump sum of $44,000.00 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 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 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.

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

JO ANN PUSICH-SILAS,                                  )
                                                      )
                       Petitioner,                    )
                                                      )
        V.                                            ) No.20-1184V
                                                      ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
SECRETARY OF                                          ) ECF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            )
                                                      )
                       Respondent.                    )

                                         STIPULATION

        The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Jo Ann Pusich-Silas ("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 seasonal influenza ("flu'') vaccination, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injucy

Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine in her left arm on October 2, 2018.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table following administration of the flu

vaccine, or in the alternative, that her alleged shoulder injury was caused-in-fact by the vaccine.

She further alleges that she 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 her condition.
        6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the flu

vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injury, any other injury; and denies that her 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 ofjudgment 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 $44,000.00, 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 ofjudgment 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-21 (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 her 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

under42 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 and any amounts 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 unreimbursab le 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), andsubjectto 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 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 2,

2018, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about September

11, 2020 in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-ll 84V.

       14. If petitioner should die prior to entry ofjudgment, 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 so le 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 shoulder

injury, 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
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Respectfully submitted.

PETITIONER:

ATI OR NEY OF RECORD FOR                            AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
PE I I I IONl::R.                                   OF THL Al IOl