Court Opinion

ID: 4246062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-16 21:04:18.57707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:49.422534
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-0338V
                                     Filed: October 4, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DAVIKA LOCHAN,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
                        Petitioner,                          Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
    v.                                                       (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Amy P. Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On March 16, 2016, Davika Lochan (“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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she
received on October 20, 2014, resulted in a shoulder injury. Pet. at preamble; Stip.,
filed Oct. 4, 2017, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was
administered in the United States, that she experienced 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 as a result of her condition. Pet. at ¶¶ 2, 14, 16; Stip. at ¶¶ 3-5.
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine administered on or about October 20, 2014, is
the cause of petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury and/or any other injury or her current
condition. Stip. at ¶ 6.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.

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).
        Nevertheless, on October 4, 2017, 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 $40,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
        Davika Lochan. Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all
        items of damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-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.

                                                      2