Court Opinion

ID: 6320713
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-07 14:02:30.974409+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:18.492502
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0393V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ALEXANDRA MARCUCCI,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                          Petitioner,                           Filed: February 2, 2022
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
                                                                Related to Vaccine Administration
                         Respondent.                            (SIRVA)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Lauren Kells, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

       On April 6, 2020, Alexandra Marcucci 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”), a defined Table Injury, caused in fact by the influenza (“flu”)
vaccine she received on November 17, 2018. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 12; Stipulation, filed at Feb.
1, 2021, ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleged that she received the vaccination in the United
States, that she suffered the residual effects of her SIRVA for more than six months, and
that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for
her SIRVA. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 12-13; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that the flu
vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a left shoulder injury or any other injury or her current
condition, and denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 section ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the p ertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       Nevertheless, on February 1, 2022, 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 $21,500.00 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 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 f iling of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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

                                              )
ALEXANDRA MARCUCCI,                           )
                                              )
               Petitioner,                    )
                                              )       No.20-393V
       v.                                     )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                              )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                       )
HUMAN SERVICES,                               )
                                              )
               Respondent.                    )

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1. Alexandra Marcucci, 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 an influenza ("flu") vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the

"Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on November 17, 2018 in her left arm.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

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

Administration ("SIRVA") as defined in the Table; she further alleges that the flu vaccine caused

her alleged shoulder injury, and that she suffered the residual effects of her alleged injury for

more than six months.

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

for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition.
          6. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a left shoulder injwy

or any other injury or her current condition, and denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table

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

the following vaccine compensation payment:

          A lump sum of $21,500.00 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 ofjudgment 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.

          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

under42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extentthatpaymenthasbeenmade 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. 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-

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 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 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, orin 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 flu vaccination administered on November 17, 2018,

as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about April 6, 2020, in

the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-393V.

       14. If petitioner should die prior to entry ofjudgment, 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 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 the flu vaccine caused or significantly aggravated

petitioner's alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury or her current condition.

       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,

 PETITIONER:

 ALEXANDRA MARCUCCI

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

 ~n-
~Gt,VINFE                                      -~fim~~                        ~
 Attorney for Petitioner                       Deputy Drrecror
 MULLER BRAZIL                                 Torts Branch. Civil Division
 715 Twining Road, Suite 208                   U.S. Deparbnent of Justice
 Dresher, PA 19025                             P.O. Box 146
 Telephone: (215) 885-1655                     Benjamin Franklin Station
 Email: leigh@mullerbrazil.com                 Washington, DC 20044-0146

 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                     ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
 OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    RESPONDENT:
 AND HUMAN SERVICES:

                                                V'0-0\"'~     ~
D&. ~ / D~c.-/                   .t<1/J~r1,,          ½t5bk~ L J 7 ~
 CDR GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD, .MP               LAUREN KELLS
 Director, Division of_Injury                  Trial Attorney
  Compensation Programs                        Torts Branch, Civil Division
 Healthcare Systems Bureau                     U.S.DeparbnentofJustice
 Health Resources and Services                 P.O.Box 146
  Administration                               Benjamin Franklin Station
 U.S. Department of Health                     Washington, DC 20044-0146
  and Human Services                           (202) 616-4187
 5600 Fishers Lane, 08N146B                    lauren.kells@usdoj.gov
 Rockville, MD 20857

 Dated:   oi,/ol fi.az..._

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