Court Opinion

ID: 4508620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-02-19 21:01:50.378257+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:04.316525
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1109V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JOHN VESELOVSKY,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: January 17, 2020
    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)

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

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On July 30, 2018, John Veselovsky 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
November 29, 2016. Petition at 1-2; Stipulation, filed January 16, 2020, at ¶¶ 2, 4.
Petitioner further alleges that he received the vaccine in the United States, that he
suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six months, and that there has
been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result
of his condition. Petition at 2-3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that
[P]etitioner suffered a SIRVA Table injury, and denies that the flu vaccine caused
[P]etitioner to suffer from a right shoulder injury or any other injury or his current
condition. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       Nevertheless, on January 16, 2020, 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 $35,000.00 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.

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

                                                )
JOHN VESELOVSKY,                                )
                                                )
                 Petitioner,                    )
                                                )       No. 18-1109V
          v.                                    )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                         )
HUMAN SERVICES,                                 )
                                                )
                 Respondent.                    )

                                           STIPULATION

          The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

          1. John Veselovsky, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-l0 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 the flu vaccine on November 29, 2016.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that he sustained a SIRVA within the time period set forth in the

Table, or in the alternative, that his alleged shoulder injuries were caused by the vaccine. He

further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of his alleged injuries for more than six

months.

       5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.
        6. Respondent denies that petitioner suffered a SIRVA Table injury, and denies that the

flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from a right shoulder injury or any other injury or his

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 tenns of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation

pmsuant 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 $35,000.00 in the fom1 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-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.

       10. Petitioner and his 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. § 300a~-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.

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        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 stah1tory 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 constmction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- l 5(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payments desciibed in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in his

individual capacity, and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns,

does forever in-evocably 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-l 0 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 November 29, 2016,

as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about July 30, 2018, in

the United States Comt of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-1109V.

       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.

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            15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete confonnity with the tenns

    of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in confom1ity with a

    decision that is in complete confonnity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the patties'

    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 Actof 1986, as amended, except ·

    as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the

    patties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated

    and clearly agreed to. The parties ftuther 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 flu yaccine caused petitioner to have a right

shoulder injury or any other injury or his 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

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 Respectfully submitted,

 PETJl'lONER:

~---
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
PETITIONER:                                 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
                                            OF THE ATl'ORNEY GENERAL:

J~
                                                   ./-Ju
                                            ~~~~~:_-==-=====-.
                                              . INE E. REEVES ·
                                                                .--,
                                                                 . .
Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates                 ·Depu Director
9150 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 241               Torts Branch, Civil Division
Beverly Hills, CA 90212                      U.$ .. Depattment ofJwitice
                                             P.O.Box 146
                                             Benjamin Franklin Station
                                            'Washington, DC 20044-0146

 AUrn'.OlUZED REPRESENTATlVE                ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
 OFTHESECRETARYOFUEALTH                     RESPONDENT:
 AND HUMAN SER.VICES:

                                            ~                             -
 TAMARA OVERBY, M.'iY.                      CBRlST™E M. BECER
 Acting Director, Division of Injury        Trial Attorney
 Compensation Programs                      Torts Bra.nch,.'Civit Division.
 Healthcare Systems Bureau •                U.S. Department of Justice
 U.S. Department of Health                  P.O. Box. 146
 and Human Services                         Benjamin Franklin Station
 S600 Fishers Lane                          Washington, DC20044--0l46
 Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08Nl46B       Tel: (202) 616-3665
 Rockville, MO 20857

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