Court Opinion

ID: 6322434
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-11 18:01:37.280908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:49.798328
License: Public Domain

In the Gnited States Court of Federal Clans

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

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MICHAEL E. DEUTSCH, *
* No. 19-530V
Petitioner, ** Special Master Christian J. Moran
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V. ** Filed: February 15, 2022
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SECRETARY OF HEALTH ** Stipulation; influenza (‘flu’) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, ** shoulder injury related to vaccine
* administration (“SIRVA”).
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Respondent. **
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Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner;
Naseem Kourosh, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

 

UNPUBLISHED DECISION'

On February 15, 2022, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Michael Deutsch on April 10, 2019. Petitioner
alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on December 18, 2017,
which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a),
caused him to suffer from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”). Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of this
injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his
condition.

 

' The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury and
denies a vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury.

Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

A lump sum payment of $10,000.00 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).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,

the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached
stipulation.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master

 

* Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each

party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 

MICHAEL E. DEUTSCH,
Petitioner,
No. 19-530V (ECF)
Vv. Special Master Moran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.

 

 

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Michael E. Deutsch (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seg. (the “Vaccine
Program”). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt
of the influenza vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”),
42 C-F.R. § 100.3(a).

2. Petitioner received an influenza vaccine on December 18, 2017 in the left arm.

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that petitioner sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as set forth in the Table. Petitioner further alleges that petitioner
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 on petitioner’s behalf as a result of petitioner’s 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
petitioner’s current condition is a sequela 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 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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue
the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $10,000.00 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)(1), 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 petitioner’s attorney represent that compensation to be provided
pursuant to this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not
primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can
reasonably be expected to be made under any 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 by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.
11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation 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 petitioner’s benefit as contemplated by a strict
construction of 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-15(a) and (d), and subject to 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 petitioner’s

individual capacity, and on behalf of petitioner’s 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 Vaccine Program, 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-10 et seg., 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 influenza vaccination administered on December 18, 2017, as alleged by
petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about April 10, 2019, in the United
States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-530V.

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.
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 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 Service that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged
injury or any other injury or petitioner’s current disabilities, or that petitioner suffered an injury
contained 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
Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

BA celenl € Lufeos

MICHAEL E. DEUTSCH

ATTORNEY OF RECORD
FOR PETITIONER:

i BRAZIL

Muller Brazil

715 Twining Road, Suite 208
Dresher, PA 19025

Telephone: (215) 885-1655
Email: paul@mullerbrazil.com

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES:

 

CDR GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD, MP
Director, Division of Injury
Compensation Programs
Health Systems Bureau
Health Resources and Services
Administration
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services
5600 Fishers Lane, 08N146B
Rockville, MD 20857

Dated: o2fis hee22.

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIN ©
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director

Torts Branch

Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
RESPONDENT:

NASEEM KOUROSH

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch

Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146

Tel: (202) 305-1159

Email: Naseem.Kourosh@usdoj.gov