Court Opinion

ID: 4447793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-17 20:02:21.355677+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:59.032108
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-1934V
                                      Filed: July 26, 2019
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    ECHO LLEWELLYN,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
                                                             Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
                                                             Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
                       Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On December 12, 2017, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) caused by a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 26, 2019, at ¶¶ 1. Petitioner further
alleges that 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 for damages on her behalf as a result of her alleged
injury. Petition at 2; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner suffered a

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
2National 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).
Table SIRVA injury and denies that the Tdap vaccination caused petitioner’s alleged
shoulder injury or any other injury or her current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

        Nevertheless, on July 26, 2019, 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.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $85,000.00 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.

       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.

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

                                                     )
ECHO LLEWELLYN,                                      )
                                                     )
                       Petitioner,                   )
                                                     )       No. 17-1934V
V.                                                   )       Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                     )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                                      )
                                                     )
                       Respondent.                   )

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Echo Llewellyn, 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 tetatnus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the

Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

       2. Petitioner received her Tdap vaccine on September 17, 2016.

       3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

("SIRVA") as the result of her Tdap vaccination and that she suffered the 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 alleged vaccine injury.
        6. Respondent denies that petitioner suffered a Table SIRVA injury and denies that the

Tdap vaccination caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injury or any other injury or her 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

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(I), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of $85,000.00 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 attorney's fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this

petition.

        I 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-l 5(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.

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        11. Payments 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 parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award

for attorney's 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-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 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 resulted from, her Tdap vaccination administered on September 17,

2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about December

12, 2017, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-1934V.

        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 conformity with the terms

of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in confonnity 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.

        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 the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged

SIRVA or any other injury or her 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

I

I

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    Respectfully submitted,

    &1~~
       HOLLE       LLYN

    ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                         AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
                                                   0 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

~
    =~                   ESQ.
    Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC
    1717 K Street NW, 'suite 900
    Washington, DC 20006
                                                            INE E. REEVES

                                                   Civil Division
    Tel: (202) 775-9200                            U.S. Department of Justice
                                                   P.O. Box 146
                                                   Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                   Washington, DC 20044-0146

    AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF                   ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
    THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                    RESPONDENT:
    HUMAN SERVICES:

    TAMARA OVERBY                                  cu~
    Acting Director, Division of Injury            Senior Trial Attorney
    Compensation Programs                          Torts Branch
    Healthcare Systems Bureau                      Civil Division
    Health Resources and Services Administration   U.S. Department of Justice
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services   P.O. Box 146
    5600 Fishers Lane                              Benjamin Franklin Station
    Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08Nl46B           Washington, DC 20044-0146
    Rockville, MD 20857                            (202) 616 - 4138

    Dated:

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