Court Opinion

ID: 4467841
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-26 21:02:00.509836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:15.499614
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1470V
                                    Filed: November 6, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    REBECCA EUGLEY,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
                                                             Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Related to Vaccine Administration
                                                             (SIRVA)
                        Respondent.

Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                              DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

Corcoran, Chief Special Master:

       On October 6, 2017, 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 22, 2016. Petition at 1, 4-5; Stipulation, filed November 6, 2019, at ¶¶ 1-4.
Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States,
that she suffered the onset of a SIRVA within the Table timeframe, that she experienced
symptoms of the injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her alleged injuries.
Petition at 4-5; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a
Table SIRVA injury; denies that the vaccine caused or significantly aggravated

1I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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. 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).
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).
petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury; and, denies that petitioner’s current
disabilities are the result of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

       Nevertheless, on November 6, 2019, 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 the decision of the Court in awarding damages,
on the terms set forth therein.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the I award the following
compensation:

        A lump sum of $175,000.00 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 § 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.

                                                      2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
                                      )
REBECCA EUGLEY,                       )
                                      )
               Petitioner,            )    No. 17-1470V      ECF
                                      )
            v.                        )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                      )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   )
                                      )
              Respondent.             )
___________________________________ )

                                          STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1.    Petitioner, Rebecca Eugley, 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 influenza (“flu”) vaccine, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42

C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

       2.    On October 22, 2016, petitioner received a flu vaccine in the left arm.

       3.    The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.    Petitioner alleges that, as a result of receiving the vaccine, she suffered the onset of a

left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) within the Table timeframe, or

alternatively, that her vaccine caused her left shoulder injury, and that she experienced symptoms

of the injury for more than six months.

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

                                                   1
for damages as a result of her alleged injuries.

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

vaccine caused or significantly aggravated petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury; and,

denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are the result 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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

                 A lump sum of $175,000.00, 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), including unreimbursed medical expenses and pain and
                 suffering.

        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. Section 300aa-21(a)(1), 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 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-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

                                                   2
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.   Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation, and any amounts

awarded pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation, will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(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 unreimbursed 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 payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her

individual capacity and on behalf of her 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, 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 vaccine administered on October 22, 2016, as alleged by

petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about October 6, 2017, in the United

States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17-1470V.

                                                  3
       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 petitioner sustained a Table injury, or that the

vaccine either caused or significantly aggravated petitioner’s alleged injury or any other injury.

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

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

                                                  4
Respectfully submitted,

                                         AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
                                         OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:
                                             CCMMa~ ~,t.u.~
                                                  e--t~L--P~
                                         CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                         Deputy Director
                                         Torts Branch
                                         Civil Division
                                         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:

                                         -~
~(2A
TAMARA OVERBY                                DARRYL R. WISHARD
Acting Director, Division of Injury          Senior Trial Attorney
  Compensation Programs                      Torts Branch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                    Civil Division
U.S. Department of Health                    U.S. Department of Justice
  and Human Services                         P.O. Box 146
5600 Fishers Lane                            Benjamin Franklin Station
Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08Nl46B          Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 208S7                           Tel: (202) 616-4357

Dated: _    1_....
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