Court Opinion

ID: 4151643
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-09 21:02:31.630406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:28.698412
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1135V
                                   Filed: November 30, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
ROBERT LEONARD,                        *
                                       *
                   Petitioner,         *       Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v.                                     *       Influenza (“Flu”) and Pneumococcal
                                       *       Conjugate Vaccines; Shoulder Injury;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                   Respondent.         *
                                       *
****************************
Martin James Martinez, Law Offices, Napa, CA, for petitioner.
Justine Elizabeth Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On October 7, 2015, Robert Leonard (“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 he suffered a shoulder
injury as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine and a pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine on January 27, 2015. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed November 30, 2016, at ¶ 2,
4. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of this alleged injury for
more than six months. Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the influenza or
pneumococcal conjugate immunizations caused petitioner’s shoulder injury or any other
injury or his current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on November 30, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.
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).
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 stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $70,000.00, 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 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