Court Opinion

ID: 4536635
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-26 20:02:09.663685+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:48:55.347830
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED
     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-990V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KILEY LIZAMA,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: April 24, 2020
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus
                                                              Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
                        Respondent.                           Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
                                                              Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On January 15, 2019, Kiley Lizama 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 SIRVA resulting from adverse
effects of her October 13, 2017 vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed April 21,
2020, at ¶ 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United
States, she experienced the residual effects of this alleged 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 condition. Petition at 1, 4; Stipulation at ¶¶ 1-5. “Respondent denies
that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury, or and further denies that the vaccine
caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury or condition.” 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2012).
       Nevertheless, on April 21, 2020, 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 $30,000.00 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.

       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.

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

KILEY LIZAMA,

                       Petitioner,

V.                                                    No. 18-990V
                                                      Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

                                            STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Petitioner filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Injury

Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (the "Vaccine Program"). The petition

seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt of the Tetanus­

diphtheria-acellular pertussis (..Tdap") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury

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

       2. Petitioner received the Tdap vaccination on or about April 23, 2016.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that the Tdap vaccine caused her to develop a right shoulder injury

related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA"), as defined in the Table, and further alleges that she

experienced the residual effects of this alleged injury 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, or and further

denies that the vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury or condition.

        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 tenns of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of$30,000.00 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-I 5(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.

        l 0. 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

under 42 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 of this Stipulation, and any amount awarded

pursuant to paragraph 9, 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 attorney's 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-15(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payment described in paragraph 8, and any amount awarded

pursuant to paragraph 9, petitioner, in her individual capacity, and on behalf of her heirs,

executors, administrators, successors and/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-l 0 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 Tdap vaccine administered on or about April 23, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a

petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about July 11, 20 l 8, in the United States Court of

Federal Claims as petition No. 18-990V.

       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 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 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 Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged

shoulder injury or any other injury or 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,

                                                   AUTHORIZED REPRSENT ATIVE
PETITIONER:                                        OF HE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

AMYSENERTH                                         C ~~~EE. REEVES
MULLER BRAZll.., LLP                               Deputy Director
715 Twining Road, Suite 208                        Torts Branch
Dresher, PA 19025                                  Civil Division
(215) 885-1655                                     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 HEALffl                        RESPONDENT:
AND HUMAN SERVICES:
                                                   (_~ m lclla:x:r
TAMARA OVERBY
                                                   ~ ~- G-___
Acting Director, Division of Injury Compensation   Trial Attorney
       Programs (DICP)                             Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                          Civil Division
Health Resources and Services Administration       U.S. Department of Justice
5600 Fishers Lane                                  P.O. Box 146
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N 146B              Benjamin Franklin Station
Rockville, MD 20857                                Washington, DC 20044-0146
                                                   Tel: (202) 616-4098

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