Sweeney v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2017 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-1217V
Filed: April 26, 2017
Unpublished
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NANCY SWEENEY, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Parsonage-
* Turner Syndrome (“PTS”); Shoulder
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Injury; Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Lisa A. Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On September 28, 2016, Nancy Sweeney (“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 left
shoulder injuries, including Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (“PTS”), which were caused-
in-fact by administration of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 2, 2014. Pet. at 1;
Stip., filed Apr. 26, 2017, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Petitioner further asserts that the vaccine was
administered in the United States, that she experienced the residual effects of her 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 condition. Pet. at ¶¶ 2, 17-19; Stip. at ¶¶ 3-5.
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged PTS, or any other
injury, and further denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-
related injury. Stip. at ¶ 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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. 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.
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 26, 2017, 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.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:
A lump sum of $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
Nancy Sweeney. Stip. at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all
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