Court Opinion

ID: 6499402
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-12 18:01:27.148641+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:33.425390
License: Public Domain

Sn the Guited States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 

No. 19-1690V
UNPUBLISHED
KRISTIN IVANOVSKI, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: June 10, 2022
V.
Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
HUMAN SERVICES, (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration
Respondent. (SIRVA)

 

 

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

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION’

On October 30, 2019, Kristin lvanovski filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seqg.* (the
“Vaccine Act’). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October
3, 2018. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed June 9, 2022, at J¥ 2-4. Petitioner further alleges
the vaccine was administered in the United States, she experienced the residual effects
of her 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 If 2, 11-13; Stipulation
at 7 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury, and denies
that petitioner's alleged shoulder injury and its residual effects were caused-in-fact by her
flu vaccine. Respondent further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner any other
injury or her current condition.” Stipulation at {] 6.

 

' Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, | am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, | agree that the identified material fits within this definition, | will redact such material from
public access.

? National 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 June 9, 2022, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. | 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, | award the following
compensation:

A lump sum of $31,500.00 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). /d.

| 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 Court is directed to
enter judgment in accordance with this decision.*

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master

 

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

 

 

KRISTIN IVANOVSKI,
Petitioner,
No. 19-1690V
v.
Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.

 

STIPULATION
The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Petitioner Kristin Ivanovski (“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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine
Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on October 3, 2018.

3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”) within the time period set forth in the Table and that her alleged shoulder condition is
actually caused by the vaccine. Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual
effects of her 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, and denies that
petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury and its residual effects were caused-in-fact by her flu
vaccine. Respondent further denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner 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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue
the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $31,500.00 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 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.
11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 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 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 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 flu vaccination administered on October 3, 2018, as
alleged by petitioner in her petition for vaccine compensation filed on October 30, 2019, in the
United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-1690V.

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 Services that the influenza vaccination caused petitioner to
suffer a shoulder injury or any other injury.

18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner’s
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

END OF STIPULATION

~~ ™~ ESS OS™
From:561 8996 0760

Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

Nutr van wvete,

KRISTIN IVANOVSK]

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
PETITIONER:

On Apo
AMY A. SENERTH
MULLER BRAZIL, LLP
715 Twining Road, Suite 208
Dresher, PA 19025
Tel: (215) 885-1655
Email: amy@mullerbrazil.com

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES:

George R. Grimes - _ Digitally signed by George R.
Grimes -S14

$14 Date: 2022.05.31 21:32:16 -04'00’

 

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

Dated: 06 ba [2272

06/06/2022 11:54 #6065 P.001/001

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Abt oth Op A

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:

DA rlama lett

ADRIANA TEITEL

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 616-3677

Email: adriana.teitel@usdoj.gov