Court Opinion

ID: 4702341
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-09 13:03:32.017668+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:24.134726
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0407V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    VERONICA SANDERSON,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: June 8, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On March 18, 2019, Veronica Sanderson 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 alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on October 4, 2016.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

     On April 27, 2020, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On June 8, 2021, Respondent filed a joint stipulation by the

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
2
 National 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).
parties stipulating that Petitioner should be awarded $160,000.00. Stipulation at ¶ 8.
Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in
the stipulation.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $160,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, Veronica
Sanderson. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
available under Section 15(a).

       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

*************************************
VERONICA SANDERSON,                           *
                                              *
                       Petitioner,            *               No.19-407V
                                              *               Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.                                            *
                                              *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                       *
HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                              *
                       Respondent.            *
*************************************

                                          STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1.     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, filed on March 18, 2019, seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to

petitioner's receipt of an influenza ("flu") vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury

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

       2.      Petitioner received a flu vaccination on October 4, 2016.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner sustained a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table following receipt of the flu vaccination,

and petitioner has suffered the residual effects of this condition for more than six months.

       5.      There is not a preponderance of the evidence demonstrating that petitioner's

SIRVA is due to a factor unrelated to the October 4, 2016 flu vaccination.
       6.       Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil

action for damages related to her SIRVA injury.

        7.      Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine

Act for her SIRVA Table injury. Therefore, 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 $160,000.00, 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-l 5(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)(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.

        I 0.    Petitioner and her 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-l 5(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

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.

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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- 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-l 5(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 petitioner's 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, a flu vaccination administered on

October 4, 2016, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about

March 19, 2019, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-407V.

        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 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 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 the 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.    The Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's shoulder injury

or any other injury or her current condition; however, petitioner has satisfied the Table criteria to

establish entitlement to compensation.

        18.     All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to

petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                         END OF STIPULATION

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Respectfully submitted,

~YITIONER:           C'\
IJ.u,   Ulc(,u,.
VERONICA SANDERSON
                   u {JL\!V      A   i) >---

          EY OF RECORD FOR                         AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
           ER:                                     OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

                                                   ~~             \4.£   (!   cJvv--,...._
                                                   HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Conway Homer, P.C.                                 Acting Deputy Director
16 Shawmut Street                                  Torts Branch
Boston, MA 02116                                   Civil Division
(617) 695-0880                                     U .S. Department of Justice
                                                   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:
                                                   ~ ( C,     f-)~~(~~\
D~ ~ I z:,p(Sc.-, ~ 1 , ,                                 \,A..\ ~ I \ L Y ' ~
TAMARA OVERBY                                      DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
Acting Director, Division oflnjury                 Senior Trial Attorney
 Compensation Programs                             Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                          Civil Division
Health Resources and Services                      U.S. Department of Justice
 Administration                                    P.O. Box 146
U.S. Department of Health                          Benjamin Franklin Station
 and Human Services                                Washington, DC 20044-0146
5600 Fishers Lane, 08Nl46B                         (202) 616-4181
Rockville, MD 20857                                Debra. Bcgley@usdoj.gov

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