Court Opinion

ID: 4221697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-11-17 21:02:00.253737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:45.934427
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1347V
                                     Filed: March 28, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
IRVIN WALSER,                          *
                                       *
                   Petitioner,         *      Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                     *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Tetanus,
                                       *      Diphtheria, Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *      Parsonage-Turner Syndrome; Brachial
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *      Neuritis; Special Processing Unit
                                       *      (“SPU”)
                   Respondent.         *
                                       *
****************************
Nancy Routh Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On October 14, 2016, Irvin Walser (“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 he suffered an injury to his right
shoulder, including Parsonage-Turner syndrome and brachial neuritis, as a result of an
influenza (“flu”) and Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) vaccines administered to him on
February 4, 2016. Petition at 1-2; Stipulation, filed March 28, 2017, at ¶ 4. Petitioner
further alleges that his injury persisted more than six months. Petition at 2; Stipulation
at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu and/or Tdap immunizations are the cause of
petitioner’s alleged Parsonage-Turner syndrome/brachial neuritis, and/or any other
injuries.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.
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).
        Nevertheless, on March 28, 2017, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.

        The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $75,000.00, 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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