Court Opinion

ID: 4385945
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-10 20:01:58.875715+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:23.226074
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-750V
                                    Filed: February 13, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    PENNY LYNN BURKE,

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

Douglas Lee Burdette, Burdette Law, PLLC, North Bend, WA, for petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 6, 2017, 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 the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 11,
2016, caused her to suffer a right shoulder injury. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed
February 13, 2019, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that her shoulder injury
symptoms have persisted for more than six months. Petition at 2. “Respondent denies
that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a right shoulder injury, or any other injury
or condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on February 13, 2019, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The

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).
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 $143,000.00 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

                                                 )
 PENNY LYNN BURKE,
                                                 )
                                                 )
                 Petitioner.
 v.                                              )    No. 17-750V
                                                 )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HlJMAN ))                    ECF
 SERVICES,                                       )

_______________ Respondent.                      ))

                                            STfPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        I. Penny Lynn Burke, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10 et seq. (the "Vaccine

Program"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries 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. § 100.3(a).

       2. Petitioner receive