Court Opinion

ID: 3205220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-19 20:02:01.381988+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:45.966210
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-550V
                                      Filed: April 7, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
ANGELA THOMAS,                         *
                                       *
                    Petitioner,        *       Joint Stipulation on Damages;
 v.                                    *       Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Tetanus,
                                       *       Diphtheria, acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *       Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *       Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”);
                                       *       Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                    Respondent.        *
                                       *
****************************
Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Julia W. McInerny, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On May 29, 2015, Angela Thomas (“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 she suffered impingement syndrome
caused in fact by the influenza and tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccinations she received on November 4, 2013. Petition at 1; see also Stipulation,
filed Apr. 7, 2016, ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she continues to suffer the
residual effects of her injuries, and that neither she nor anyone else has brought an
action or has received compensation for her injuries. Petition, ¶¶ 17-18; see also
Stipulation ¶¶ 4-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner’s alleged impingement syndrome
and residual effects were caused-in-fact by the flu and/or Tdap vaccines.” Stipulation, ¶
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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). 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 April 7, 2016, 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.

        The parties stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:

        A lump sum of $135,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
        Stipulation, ¶ 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.
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