Court Opinion

ID: 5118984
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-18 13:03:32.471338+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:10.589746
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1989V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ROBIN O'BRIEN,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: September 15, 2021
    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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Wei Kit Tai, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

        On December 30, 2019, Robin O’Brien 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her October 1, 2018 influneza (“flu”) vaccination.
Petition at 1; see Stipulation, filed at September 14, 2021, ¶¶ 1,4. Petitioner further alleges
the vaccine was administered within the United States, that she suffered the residual
effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or
settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Stipulation at ¶¶ 3, 4-5;
see Petition at ¶¶ 2, 19-20. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner sustained Table SIRVA
within the timeframe set forth in the Table; and denies that the flu immunization caused
[P]etitioner’s alleged shoulder injury and/or any other injury.” 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1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
2National 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 September 14, 2021, 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 $80,810.10 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 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.

                                                    2
                  THE UNITED ST ATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 ROBIN O'BRIEN,

                         Petitioner,

 v.                                                      No. 19-1989V
                                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

                                            STIPULATION

The pa11ies hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        I. Robin O'Brien ("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. § I 00.3(a).

       2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on October I, 2018, in her left shoulder.

        3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a left-sided shoulder injury related to vaccine

administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the alternative, that

her alleged shoulder injury was caused by the vaccine. She further alleges that she experienced

residual effects of this alleged 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 Table SIRVA within the timeframe set

forth in the Table; and denies that the flu immunization caused petitioner's alleged shoulder

injury andlor any other injury.

        7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the patties 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 te1ms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2 l (a)(l ), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of$80,810.10 in the foim of a check payable to petitioner. This amount
        represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C.
        § 300aa-l S(a) for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt of the flu vaccine.

        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-2 l (a)( I), and an application, the pa11ies 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-1 S(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 pa11ies and their attorneys fu11her agree and stipulate that, except for any award

for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable expenses. the money pro\'ided

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- l 5(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 and•· 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 Cou11 of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury

Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l Oet 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 or

about October l, 2018, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on

December 30, 2019, in the United States Cou11 of Federal Claims as petition No. l 9-l 989V.

        14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be voidable

upon proper notice to the Cou11 on behalf of either or both of the parties.
 Respectfully submitted,

 ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
 PETITIONER:                           OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

                                       ~~~~
                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
 Muller Brazil                         Deputy Director
 715 Twining Road                      To11s Branch
 Suite 208                             Civil Division
 Dresher, PA 19025                     U.S. Depa11ment of Justice
 (215) 885-1655                        P.O. Box 146
                                       Benjamin Franklin Station
                                       Washington, DC 20044-0146

 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE             ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
 OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH            RESPONDENT:
 AND HUMAN SERVICES:
                                       I).)   !A l,,J-(Avh.-t) ~
z:;,~ ~ I V,#Se,1 A/J~ (Y~                     ~ tlt~               {kvlr---
 TAMARA OVERBY                         WEI KIT (RICKY) TAI
 Acting Director, Division of Injury   Trial Attorney
  Compensation Programs (DICP)         Torts Branch
 Healthcare Systems Bureau             Civil Division
 Health Resources and Services         U.S. Department of Justice
  Administration                       P.O. Box 146
 U.S. Depa11ment of Health             Benjamin Franklin Station
  and Human Services                   Washington, DC 20044-0146
 5600 Fishers Lane, 08N 146B           (202) 616-9847
 Rockville, MD 20857                   Wei.Taiza ,usdoj .gov