Court Opinion

ID: 6104923
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-19 22:01:48.26432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:45.769507
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0110V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    TINA SCHAUM-HOEY,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: December 15, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
                                                                Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
                         Respondent.                            Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

       On January 31, 2020, Tina Schaum-Hoey 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) vaccine administered to her on March 24, 2018. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed
on December 14, 2021, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccine
in the United States, that she has experienced the residual effects of her injury for more
than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for
damages as a result of her alleged condition. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 4-5; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5.
“Respondent denies that petitioner sustained the onset of a SIRVA Table injury within the
Table timeframe or that she suffered from her alleged injury for more than six months and
further denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged right shoulder injury, or
any other injury, or her current 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1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
        Nevertheless, on December 14, 2021, 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 $40,000.00 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 Section 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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            3fn tbe mntteb ~tateS' qtourt of jfeberal qtiaimS'
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

TINA SCHAUM-HOEY,

                     Petitioner,
                                                          Case No. 20-1 IOV (ECF)
v.                                                        CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
                                                          CORCORAN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,

                     Respondent.

                                       STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.     Tina Schaum-Hoey, 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, and acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine,

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

42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

       2.     Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on March 24, 2018.

      3.      The vaccination was administered within the United States.

      4.      Petitioner alleges that she sustained a right shoulder injury related to

vaccine administration ("SIRVA") within the Table time period after receiving the Tdap
vaccine, and alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than

six months.

       5.     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 alleged injuries.

       6.     Respondent denies that petitioner sustained the onset of a SIRVA Table

injury within the Table timeframe or that she suffered from her alleged injury for more

than six months and further denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged right

shoulder injury, any other injury, or her current 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 terms 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 $40,000.00 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 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.

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       10.    Petitioner and her 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 unreimbursed 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-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

her individual capacity, and on behalf of her 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

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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 Tdap vaccination administered on March 24, 2018, as alleged by

petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about January 31, 2020, in

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-01 l0V.

       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.

                                              4
       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 right shoulder injury or any other injury or her 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

                                              5
   Respectfully submitted,

   PETITIONER:

   ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                   AUTHORIED REPRESENTATIVE
   PETITIONER:                              OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

                                            ~~¼ Qe..t,1 !&-----
  JE~                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
  Counsel for Petitioner                    Deputy Director
  .Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates              Torts Branch, Civil Division
  9150 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 241        U.S. Department of .Justice
  Beverly Hills, CA 90212                   P.O. Box 146
  jpop@poplawyer.com                        IJenjamin Franklin Station
  (310) 421-3826                            Washington. DC 20044-0146

  AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                 ATTONEY OF RECORD FOR
  OF THE SECRETARY OF 1-TEALTII             RESPONDENT:
  AND HUMAN SERVICES:
                                            ~\<. ~
D & ~ ~ / D#Sc.-, MS, A/JhV;tf'&                   ~ ~~LP~
  TAMARA OVERBY                             MARK K. 1-IELLIE
  Acting Director, Division of Injury       Trial Attorney
    Compensation Programs                   Torts Branch. Civil Division
  Health Systems Bureau                     U.S. Department of Justice
  Health Resources and                      P.O . Box 146
    Services Administration                 Benjamin Franklin Station
  U.S. Department of Health and             Washington, DC 20044-0146
    Human Services                          mark.hell ie@usdoj .gov
  5600 Fishers Lane, 08N 1468               (202) 616-4208
  Rockville, MD 20857

  Dated:   \21)~:d?-'Z I

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