Court Opinion

ID: 4555113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-12 20:02:14.629096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:20.456633
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1790V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    ANTHONY ARBONA,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: July 8, 2020
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
                                                              Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
                        Respondent.                           Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

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

       On November 20, 2018, Anthony Arbona 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccination that was administered on June 6, 2017. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at
July 8, 2020, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccination in the
United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six
months, and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received
compensation for her injuries, alleged as vaccine caused. Petition at 2; Stipulation at ¶¶
3-5. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that
the vaccine caused [P]etitioner’s alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
denies that his current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. ” Stipulation at
¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on July 8, 2020, 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 $53,749.00 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 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.

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

                                                       )
ANTHONY ARBONA,                                        )
                                                       )
                       Petitioner,                     )
                                                       )      No. 18-1790V
V.                                                     )      Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                       )      ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                )
HUMAN SERVICES,                                        )
                                                       )
                       Respondent.                     )

                                          STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Anthony Arbona, 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 tetanus-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 the Tdap vaccine on or about June 6, 2017.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that he sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration ("SIRVA") following his Tdap vaccine, within the time period set forth in the

Table, or in the alternative, that his alleged shoulder injuries were caused by the vaccine. He

further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of his alleged injuries for more than six

months after vaccine administration.
        5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition.

        6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the

vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and denies that his

current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.

        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)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of$53,749.00 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-2 l(a)(l), 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.

        10. Petitioner and his attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to

this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can reasonably be

expected to be made under any State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or

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State health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §

1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

        11. Payments made pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Stipulation will be made in

accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l 5(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 attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable expenses, 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) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payment described in paragraph 8 and any amount awarded pursuant

to paragraph 9, petitioner, in his individual capacity and on behalf of his 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, the Tdap vaccination

administered on June 6, 201 7, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation

filed on or about November 20, 2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition

No. 18-l 790V.

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        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.

        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.

        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 Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder

injury, any other injury, or his current disabilities.

        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

I

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    Respectfully submitted,

    PETITIONER:

     \1-.~/)JJ-~--
             /<
                  -----
A~ HON~ ARBONA

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

~                       ~         ---____.,        ~
                                                     THARINE E. REEVES
LAW OFFICES OF LEAH V. DURANT, PLLC               Dep       irector
1717 K Street N.W.                                Torts Branch
Suite 900                                         Civil Division
Washington, D.C'. 20006                           U. S. Department of Justice
Tel: (202) 652-1178                               P. 0. Box 146
                                                  Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                  Washington, D.C. 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF                      ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                       RESPONDENt :                              .
HUMAN SERVICES:
                                                  (_~_13.~
                                                  CL~     A~                     i__,c___
TAMARA OVERBY
Acting Director, Division of                      Senior Trial Attorney
Injury Compensation Programs (DICP)               Torts Branch, Civil Division
Healthcare Systems Bureau                         U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Health                         P.O. Box 146
and Human Services                                Benjamin Franklin Station
5600 Fishers Lane                                 Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Park lawn Building, Stop-0SN 1468                 Tel: (202) 919-6599
Rockville, MD 20857

Dated:     _'l_./_1. . ./__J-L>
                            ___

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