Court Opinion

ID: 6320717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-07 14:02:39.959007+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:25.970578
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1122V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    REBECCA JARAMILLO,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 1, 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)

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

       On September 2, 2020, Rebecca Jaramillo 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (SIRVA) after an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on September 27, 2019.
Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at February 1, 2022, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that
she experienced the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Petition at ¶
11; Stipulation at ¶ 5. Respondent denies that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury,
denies that Petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine, and
denies that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner 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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
2
 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 February 1, 2022, 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 $46,000.00 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 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 STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                    )
 REBECCA JARAMILLO,                                 )
                                                    )
                Petitioner,                         )
                                                    )     No. 20-1122V
 V.                                                 )     Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )     ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
                Respondent.                         )

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Rebecca Jaramillo, 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. § I00.3(a).

       2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine in her left shoulder on September 27, 2019.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table, and 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 on her behalf as a result of her condition.

       6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denies that