Court Opinion

ID: 4455053
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-12 21:01:56.145665+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:09.099614
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-0472V
                                     Filed: August 20, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    PHILIP YEAKEL,

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

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On March 30, 2018, Philip Yeakel (“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 as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine to his right
shoulder on October 10, 2016. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed August 20, 2019, at ¶¶ 2,
4. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the effects of his vaccine-related injury for
more than six months. Petition at 4; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s
alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that his current condition is a
sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

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).
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 August 20, 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 $60,000.00, 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 § 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
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

PHILIP YEAKEL,                                        )

        V.
                       Petitioner,
                                                      )

                                                      )
                                                      )
                                                      )
                                                       )

                                                           No. 18-472V
                                                           Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                                                                     '\
SECRETARY OF                                          )
HEAL TH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                      )
                       Respondent.                    )

                                            STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Petitioner Philip Yeakel ("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 f?r 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 vaccine on or about October I 0, 2016.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

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

("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the alternative, that his alleged

shoulder injury was caused by the vaccine. He further alleges that he experienced the re·sidual

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 injury, 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 neve11heless 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-2\(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of$60,000.00 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 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-21 (a)( I), 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.

        I 0. 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- I S(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.

                                                  2
        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-15(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- I 5(g) and (h).

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

individual capacity, and on behalf of his 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 October I 0, 2016, as

alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about March 30, 2018, in

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-472V.

        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.

                                                     3
        15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms

of this Stipulation or if the Court ofFederal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a

decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the patties'

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, 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 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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                                                  4
Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

pk~
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                     AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
PETITIONER:

                                           ~                   GEf_A
                                                                   ~-----
LEAH V.       RA .                         ~       RINE E. REEVES
LAW OFFICES OF LEAH V. DURANT, PLLC        Deputy Director
1717 K Street NW, Suite 900                Torts Branch
Washington, DC 20006                       Civil Division
(202) 775-9200                             U.S. Department of Justice
                                           P.O. Box 146
                                           Benjamin Franklin Station
                                           Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                  ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 RESPONDENT:
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

                                           '; ( J ' ~
TAMARA OVERBY                              LARA A. ENGLUND
Acting Director, Division of               Senior Trial Attorney
Injury 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
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08Nl46B       Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 20857                        (202) 307-3013

              / J'-c_l.._
Dated: __"b--4-C        L_<:\ _ _ __

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