Court Opinion

ID: 4468081
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-27 21:01:53.232479+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:20.029129
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 18-050V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    JESSICA OTT,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                          Filed: November 8, 2019
    v.

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

Shealene Priscilla Mancuso, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On January 10, 2018, Jessica Ott 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 right shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she
received on October 24, 2016. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed November 7, 2019, at ¶¶
3, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her injury for
more than six months. Petition at 4; Stipulation at ¶ 4. Respondent states that
“petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act
for her SIRVA.” Stipulation at ¶ 7.

       Nevertheless, on November 7, 2019, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the

1I intend 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, I agree that the identified
material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 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).
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).
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, the I award the following
compensation:

        A lump sum of $90,000.00 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.

                                                      2
               IN THE UNITED ST ATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                    )
JESSICA OTT,                                        )
                                                    )
                Petitioner,                         )
                                                    )    No. 18-S0V
 V.                                                 )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
     Respondent.                                    )
_________________                                   )

                                            STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        l . Jessica Ott, 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

influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"),

42 C.F,R, § 100.3 (a).
        2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on or about October 24, 2016.

        3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

        4. Petitioner sustained a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table, and experienced the residual effects of

her injury for more than six months.

        5. There is not a preponderance of evidence demonstrating that petitioner's condition is

due to a factor unrelated to vaccination.
       6. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition.

       7. Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act

for her S[RVA. Therefore, 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 l (a)( l ). the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of $90,000.00 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-l 5(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-2 I