Court Opinion

ID: 2677821
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-06-10 20:01:05.700759+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:48.318041
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 13-124V
                                        Filed: May 20, 2014

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                             UNPUBLISHED
VILMA PETROFF,                                 *
                                               *            Special Master Dorsey
               Petitioner,                     *
                                               *
v.                                             *
                                               *            Joint Stipulation on Damages;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                            *            Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            *            Brachial Plexus Neuropathy.
                                               *
               Respondent.                     *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Justine E. Daigneault, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                                            DECISION 1

        On February 15, 2013, Vilma Petroff (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Ms.
Petroff alleged that she received an influenza vaccination on October 28, 2010, and that she
thereafter suffered from brachial plexus neuropathy which was caused in fact by the vaccination.
Petition at 1-2.

       On May 20, 2014, the parties filed a stipulation in which they agree that a decision should
be entered awarding compensation.
1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by
Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request 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).
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 (2006) (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.

                                                  1
        Respondent denies that the influenza vaccination caused petitioner to suffer from brachial
plexus neuropathy or any other injury or her current condition. Nevertheless, the parties agree to
the joint stipulation, attached hereto 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 stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

       A lump sum payment of $15,000.00 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).

       Stipulation ¶ 8.

       The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioners’ compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

         In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation. 3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             s/ Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             Nora Beth Dorsey
                                             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.

                                                2
Case 1:13-vv-00124-UNJ Document 30 Filed 05/20/14 Page 1 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00124-UNJ Document 30 Filed 05/20/14 Page 2 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00124-UNJ Document 30 Filed 05/20/14 Page 3 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00124-UNJ Document 30 Filed 05/20/14 Page 4 of 5
Case 1:13-vv-00124-UNJ Document 30 Filed 05/20/14 Page 5 of 5