Court Opinion

ID: 4203222
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-09-13 20:04:34.303328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:52.633134
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         Filed: August 8, 2017

* * * * * * * *                     *    *   *    * *
SHELLY THOMPSON,                                    *                    UNPUBLISHED
                                                    *
                  Petitioner,                       *                    No. 16-1440V
                                                    *
v.                                                  *                    Special Master Gowen
                                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                 *                    Joint Stipulation; Influenza (“flu”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                 *                    Brachial neuritis; Axillary nerve
                                                    *                    injury
                  Respondent.                       *
                                                    *
*    * * *        *   *    *    *   *    *   *    * *

Howard S. Gold, Gold Law Firm, LLC, Wellesley Hills, for petitioner.
Sam Shirazi, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                      DECISION ON STIPULATION1

        On November 1, 2016, Shelly Thompson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34
(2012).2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered brachial neuritis and axillary nerve injury as a result
of an influenza vaccine administered on September 28, 2015. Petition (ECF No. 1).

        On August 8, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 24). Respondent
denies that petitioner’s alleged brachial neuritis and axillary nerve injury, or any other condition,
were caused by the flu vaccine she received. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it
on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012). The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. Before the
decision is posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any
information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is
privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the
court with a proposed redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14
days, the decision will be posted on the court’s website. Id.

2
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. §
300aa.
stipulation attached herein as Appendix A. 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 in compensation:

         1) A lump sum of $72,500 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).

         Joint Stipulation at ¶ 8.

       The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the
terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

         IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the
right to seek review.
      Case 1:16-vv-01440-UNJ Document 24 Filed 08/08/17 Page 1 of 5

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

 SHELLY THOMPSON,

                         Petitioner,

 v.                                                       No. 16-1440V
                                                          Special Master Thomas L. Gowen
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

                                             STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        I.     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 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 immunization on September 28, 20 I5.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that she developed Brachia! Neuritis and Axillary Nerve

Injury which was caused-in-fact by her flu vaccination, and that she has experienced 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 condition.

       6.      Resp.~>ndent denies     that petitioner's alleged Brachia) Neuritis and Axillary Nerve
       Case 1:16-vv-01440-UNJ Document 24 Filed 08/08/17 Page 2 of 5

Injury, or any other condition, was caused-in-fact by her flu vaccination.

        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)(I), the Secretary of Health and Human

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of$72,500.00 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)(I), 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.

        l 0.    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-IS(i), subject

to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

                                                     2
      Case 1:16-vv-01440-UNJ Document 24 Filed 08/08/17 Page 3 of 5

        12.    The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any

award for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, 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) arid (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h).

        13.    Jn 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 l'esulted from, the flu vaccination administered on September 28, 2015,

as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about November 1,

2016, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. J6-1440V.

        14.    If petitioner should die prior to entry ofjudgment, 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.

                                                  3
       Case 1:16-vv-01440-UNJ Document 24 Filed 08/08/17 Page 4 of 5

        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 petitioner's alleged Brachial Neuritis and Axillary

Nerve Injury, or any other condition, was caused-in-fact by her flu vaccination.

       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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     Case 1:16-vv-01440-UNJ Document 24 Filed 08/08/17 Page 5 of 5

Respectfully submitted,

PETITIONER:

ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
PETITIONER:

HOWARDS. GOLD
GOLD LAW FIRM, LLC
83 Walnut Street, Suite i 50
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481                      Civil Division
(781)-239-1000                                 U.S. Department of Justice
                                               P.O. Box 146
                                               Benjamin Franklin Station
                                               Washington, DC 20044-0146

                                               ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
                                               RESPONDENT:

                                                :?2= ~
                                                      -
                                               SAM SHIRAZ!
Acting Director                                Trial Attorney
Division of Injury Compensation Programs       Torts Branch
Healthcarl! Systems Bureau                     Civil Division
U.S. Department of Health                      U.S. Department of Justice
5600 Fishers Lane                              P.O. Box 146
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N146B           Benjamin Franklin Station
Rockville, MD 20857                            Washington, DC 20044-0146
                                               (202) 532-0222

Dated:   ()l/d8 / o( ol Z

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